The before mentioned issue arose when she woke up to someone standing over her staring into her face. She let out a scream and sent the perpetrator flying then crashing down her stairs.

The pervert was none other than Bickslow. Gaia had let Laxus and his team up into her home while she was sleeping since she would be resting most of the day. Due to Gaia being a meddlesome queen, she thought this to be the golden opportunity to let Laxus and Laxanne bond. But even with Gaia's warning to not startle her, and Laxus's warning to stay clear of her, he couldn't resist and went up into her bedroom, where he was promptly thrown out by a blast of light energy. Bickslow groaned as he sat up, now realizing that he was going to have a very pissed off Dragon Slayer and an extremely pissed of Phoenix.

Laxanne clutched her heart as she quickly changed into an open backed t-shirt crop-top, and a pair of shorts before hurrying down the steps to see she had kicked Bickslow down the stairs. "What the hell?! How did you get in here?" She asked as she noticed the magical presence of Laxus and the rest of the thunder god tribe.

Laxus pulled off his sound pod. "Gaia let us up here. She said you most likely wouldn't be leaving your home today."

She let out a sigh. "She is correct, but she should have woken me up as opposed to just letting people into my home, Maple doesn't like such things."

Evergreen, who was lounging in her armchair spoke up. "Maple?"

Laxanne nodded and went over to the wall of her home. "Maple. This tree is named Maple. It is something that was created eons ago, and is a descendant of the first. No one knows for sure is what the lore said is true, but this tree is alive, it is called a Balista Casana le tellia, or in a literal translation to our modern tongue, Living tree home of brids."

Freed looked at the wall of the home in a calculating manor. "Facinating…" He mumbled. "Laxanne-sama, could you please tell me the story about these trees? The lore you mentioned earlier."

Laxanne shrugged. "I don't see why not." She cleared her throat before beginning to retell the tale.

Long, Long ago, deep within the heart of the wilds a young girl with bright golden wings wandered about among the trees. The girl had never been to a place like this before, and being an Orphan, she had no parents to tell her about it. She was completely alone, and in her wandering adventures she managed to get herself lost in the massive forest. It was getting dark and she was getting cold. She knew the sun was falling so she decided she would retire for the night.

Up ahead she noticed a tree with a massive hole in the center, just enough room for such a small girl to curl up in. She flew into it and greedily fell asleep, happy to finally have a roof over her head.

The tree, already filled with life. Could sense the girl's feelings and knew she had no home. As the girl slept the magic of the tree changed it and made it change and transform into a large home for the girl. It had created a space just for her. It could feel everything she loved and how she felt. The magic in the tree had bonded with her deeply, without even having contact with the girl for more than a few seconds.

The girl awoke in the morning in her newly transformed home. She didn't remember getting here but she could feel something, a warm pulse to her heart. She flew down a level, finding a large garden and a strange area where a green soil sat fixed inside the edge of the window, with a thick branch curling into the room.

She felt her stomach growl and with her wish for food, the tree responded with a large juicy apple growing on the branch. She happily took it and thanked the tree. She turned around and glanced at the flowers around her. They reminded her of her old home, where she used to live happily before she was alone.

Sensing her sadness the tree sent warm pulses to the girl. She was so happy with the tree, knowing she now had a friend. It was odd, but she accepted it anyways and became the first to live in the tree, giving it the name Hope. She live her life in the tree, even mating a harpy and bringing him to Hope with news of a child. The tree, sensing the new family, grew and expanded, giving more room for the child. For centuries the tree and family grew before an attack came and killed both the family and the tree. But with the last breath of life the tree shattered and spread its magic to trees all over the wilds and if one should bond with the tree's magic, it shall become the perfect home for them, always no matter where their path leads.

Evergreen hummed. "That is quite a story. But the question still remains how much of it is true?"

Laxanne merely shrugged. "No one really knows, but something has to be true, I mean look at Maple. She lives."

Bickslow cracked up, "Yeah but the growing an apple out of no where is totally bogus."

Laxanne chuckled. "Oh, really? Because I have that exact thing in my kitchen area."

Bickslow snorted, "Prove it."

Laxanne smirked, walking over to in front of him. "Alright." She picked him up by his shirt and quickly threw him down the steps to the level below where the kitchen was. Laxanne's bright laughter echoed about as she quickly flew after him to watch him groan in pain and annoyance at her actions.

"You know I can walk?" He spat at her.

Laxanne shrugged. "I just enjoyed throwing you down the stairs earlier, I thought I would do it again." She told him with a playful grin on her lips.

"Laxus your sister is crazy." Bickslow mentioned in annoyance.

Laxus just chuckled while beside him Freed smirked. "Laxanne-sama, you were going to show us what was mentioned in the legend?"

Laxanne snapped her fingers. "Right! Thank you for keeping us on track, Freed." She said with a kind smile as she walked over to a large window with a long window pot looked carved into the thick bark of the tree, filled with green soil and a branch hanging into the house. Laxanne waved her hand in front of the branch and on it grew a bright red apple. She plucked it from the branch and tossed it at Bickslow.

The Seith mage caught it with ease, still stunned by what he had seen. Laxanne made a motion, telling him to try the fruit. Bickslow stared at it for a moment, questioning whether or not it was a smart idea. But with a shrug he bit into the apple realizing it was far jucier than anything at the local farmers market in Magnolia. "Holy shit this is awesome!" He said gleefully having some more. "This is better than anywhere!"

Laxanne laughed. "These places live to please and keep the people living within them happy and healthy. So they only provide the best fruit and vegetables possible, as well as several herbs. Maple made another couple of these in my lab where I use them to grow healing herbs and plants to make my potions. But up here I can grow herbs for cooking." She told them, waving her hand over the soil making a couple heads of lettuce, fresh strawberries, cucumbers, blueberries, and raspberries grow. She picked the plants and carried them over to the counter, setting them down as she reached into the cooling box to pull out a fruit dressing she made for her breakfast salads. "Are you guys hungry? I might not be able to make anything of animal protein but I make a good breakfast salad."

Evergreen lit up, "Finally someone wont try to feed me animal products!"

Laxanne rose an eyebrow at her outburst, "You're welcome?"

Evergreen blushed when she realized she said it out loud. "S-Sorry. I'm vegan but these buffoons keep trying to feed me eggs and bacon for breakfast."

Laxanne looked horrified. "I officially feel sick. I can't think of eating eggs for breakfast, I don't mind many things, but eating anything that came from a bird is a big no go for me."

Evergreen laughed and went over to Laxanne beginning to help her cut up the lettuce for the salad. The two girls were getting along swimmingly well. It was nice to see Laxanne getting along with people from the guild, especially with how much she didn't seem to want to get to know them. No one knew for sure if this was genuine emotion or if she was forcing herself to get along, but no one was going to question it for now. The boys sat at the bar behind the counter, sitting up on the stools with vines winding around them and watched the girls as they worked diligently to make the breakfast.
Laxanne was grateful for the help Evergreen provided with preparing breakfast. She had to admit she was a wonderful helper, and didn't constantly badger her for her refusal to eat eggs in the morning. Laxanne skillfully mixed a fruit juice style dressing and drizzled it over the salad as she instructed Evergreen to make some juice with the oranges she had sitting in a bowl on the far end of the counter. Working together the girls managed to put the meal out in about fifteen minutes. The girls placed the food on the bar and Laxanne walked over to the wall of tree home. "Maple, wake up Relia for me. She needs to eat breakfast." She told the tree before sitting on a cloud from her wind magic, since her guests were taking up all her barstools. The Pheonix mage made herself a plate and made a smaller plate for her tiny exceed when she woke up.

"Laxy… morning." Her exceed yawned out as she floated over to everyone with her aera magic.

Laxanne smiled and held the exceed close to her chest when she got close enough. "Morning, Relia. I'm surprised you didn't hear the commotion earlier."

Relia shook her head as she settled down into Laxanne's lap. "No I was too tired. Pantherlily and I sparred for a while yesterday. I improved a lot more with my sword. But I'm nowhere near as good as you are." She spoke to her partner as she snuggled into her place in the girl's lap.

The group gapped at the cat in the girl's lap as they ate. Laxanne noticed their gaze and narrowed her eyes. "Is something the matter?"

"I apologize if our staring and gawking has offended you," Freed broke free from his staring, "but we are only familiar with dragon slayers having exceeds. Does this mean you are one as well?"

Laxanne chuckled. "Well yes and no, but that can be discussed at a later date." She sighed. "I'm aware that it is far too common for a dragon slayer to have an exceed, but it isn't a requirement for the person owning the exceed to be a dragon slayer. It is just a lucky coincidence that all of them befell into the hands of dragon slayers, or perhaps fate has played its part as well in this plot. But since it isn't a requirement, Relia chose me. I've taken care of her since she was still just an egg, much like the zentopian church took care of that one exceed."

Freed nodded. "I see. Well we thank you for the meal, but we should be meeting up with our guild. It appears that we are all going to some pool around here."

Laxanne nodded. "alright. But you are aware there is no stairs down, just a fall, right?"

Freed only chuckled. "Do not worry, we are aware and already taken the steps to procure our safe departure." Laxanne was stunned at both his preparedness, and his mannerisms. She waved farewell as Evergreen dragged a cackling Bickslow from the room with Freed and Laxas following behind.

Laxanne couldn't deny that it had been an interesting morning, but she wasn't overly pleased about it. She found no fault with the team, but she didn't like people breaking into her personal space. She would admit they weren't awful company, but that certainly didn't mean she enjoyed it either. With a sigh she went up the stairs to her room and pulled out her bikini from her wardrobe. She changed out of her clothes and into it before covering herself in her shorts for a little more decency, but it was supposed to be a warmer day so she wished to remain cool. She grabbed her bag and shoved a towel inside before she allowed Relia to settle on top. "We're going to the falls today, Relia. Wanna bring any of your water toys?" She asked her tiny exceed.

Relia shook her head. "Nah. I don't wanna play any games this time, only relax."

Laxanne rubbed the tiny cat behind the ears. "Fair enough." She spread her wings behind her back before she slid the strap over her shoulder. "Let's get going, I bet some of the guild members will be there." She told her exceed, knowing she was happy to have met more of her kind. As she was leaving she touched the wall of her tree, "Maple, please put up some defenses to keep others out only allow the queen in, but no others. I want to be alone unless I invite them." The tree sent a hum of energy through her in response making her smile, as she knew her friend understood. "Thank you, dear friend." Laxanne said as she turned to her door and walked out, leaving through the balcony door. She flapped her wings before a blast of air magic brought her quickly into the sky above. She smiled at the familiar feel of the air rushing past, a gleeful feeling that hasn't died over all these years.

She flew out towards the water. As she got closer she pulled her exceed out of her bag and held her in her arm and yanked her bag off her shoulder. As she almost breached the tree line and the loud sound of the people around playing in the water hit her. She shook her head at some of the things said, but ignored it as she focused so just as she breeched the trees she hung her bag on a tree with a conveniently place branch, and flew out over the water folding her wings and falling back into the water in a dive. But not before releasing Relia so she could Activate her Aera magic if it suited her. The Exceed did and after watching her partner dive into the water and resurface she flew down to her. "You show off." She mumbled.

Laxanne giggled. "You are just jealous you can't, Relia." She teased. She saw her exceed tense as she looked at the deep waters of the center of the lake. Laxanne simply patted Relia's head with a reassuring smile. "You'll get there eventually, Relia." She reminded her friend. Laxanne touched the blue stone on her bracelet, "Embrace Phoenix, Water!" She called out the spell and blue washed over her wings like water over a hill. Laxanne flapped her wings, grateful they no longer felt heavy from being filled with water. She hovered there for a moment before grabbing her exceed, "Come on, let's take you to the end that isn't so deep so you can swim."

The small deep purple exceed snuggled into Laxanne's embrace as she flew them over to the shallow end. As Laxanne landed the water only came up to her knees. But Relia was still scared, as she was lowered into the water she clung to Laxanne's arm to keep from sinking. The small cat let out a whimper in fear as she looked up at Laxanne.

She gave the cat a smile. "Don't be afraid, I'm right here. I promise." Laxanne reassured the exceed. "You have to learn to handle swimming. I know you can do it, but you're afraid because you almost drowned. But I'm right here, I won't allow you to get hurt as long as I breathe."

Her words seemed to calm Relia as she slowly allowed her paws to release Laxanne's arm and sunk into the water, but kept a tight grip on her hand. Her grip tightened as she started sinking too far. "Laxxy!" She yelped in fear.

"Don't worry, Relia. I'm right here. But you can't forget to kick your legs." She reminded the cat.

Relia started kicking her legs and was happy to see herself starting to float. She laughed in happiness, the feeling rolling off him in waves. "Laxxy! I'm doing it! I'm not sinking!"

Laxanne sank down in the water, sitting on her knees in front of her exceed. "Yes you are, very good Relia." She said as she rubbed his head. "You're very brave." She told her in praise as she let the Exceed hold her hand.

"Awe~!" A bright voice cooed from behind her. Laxanne looked behind her, moving her wings out of the way slightly. She saw a young woman with long white hair looking down at her. Laxanne remembered her from the grand magic games, she had take over magic. "Who is this little cutie?" She asked as she watched Relia.

"I'm Relia, Laxanne's exceed partner!" She answered before Laxanne.

"You're simply adorable!" She squealed. "I'm Mirajane." She said as she sat next to Laxanne in the water.

"I remember you from the Grand Magic Games. Your magic is quite impressive." Laxanne complimented.

"Oh you saw that?" She said a little embarrassed as a light pink dusted her cheeks. "I appreciate the compliment, so you saw the competition."

"I only saw yours and Laxas's fight. Gaia thought I should at least take a break from the work I was doing and see some of the fights." Laxanne admitted before an evil smirk graced her lips. "And the fates assured me I would be able to see my father finally put in his place."

She cocked her head to the side. "The fates? Who are they?"

"I'm not entirely sure. But what I do know is they are three immortal beings who know the future. They can see everything you've done and everything you will do and what decisions you are currently making. They know all, see all, and judge all. One of the spells I use draws on this power." I told her. "They've been around since the beginning of time and seem to know everything. They even knew what would happen to me."

"You mean they knew how Ivan would resurrect your mother and force her to carry you before killing her?" Mira questioned in horror.

"Yes." I nodded, not blaming for her horror. "And they knew even more. They knew I would fall from that cliff all those years ago. But I was apparently supposed to hit the ground. But they said something changed that day, apparently before I fell they didn't see anything but me falling to my death. But on the day I vanished from their sights for a moment and when I reappeared I was a guardian to the wilds. So I guess something can interfere with their powers but I'm not sure what it really is. I don't know what it is for sure though." Laxanne sighed. "Every decision we make means our future changes slightly and chooses another path. They know what path the world is on and which people are on. But people who aren't on an exact path, the future is blurred to them."

Mira looked at the water, her face contorting in thought. "I guess they can't know it everything at any moment."

Relia giggled. "Of course they can't no one can know the future without making a decision towards the future they hope to gain. Whether it be one of freedom, or one of domination. Any future requires people to make a decision to move time forward." She said confidently, looking up at Mira.

Laxanne rubbed Relia behind the ears. "Very good, Relia." She watched as Relia purred as she felt Laxanne's nails lightly graze her scalp. Relia was content with the actions of her partner and closest friend, as she slowly got used to the water she slowly let go of Laxanne's arm, letting herself swim gently in the water. She was glad Laxanne made no motion to leave her side she found peace, that swimming may actually turn out to be a fun activity. But a sudden shriek from out further in the lake startled her into clinging onto Laxanne's arm once again.


Finally managed to finish writing and editing chapter 3! Since I don't have anything done, chapter four will take a while to complete. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter ^_^