Hello everyone and welcome back to the fourth chapter of this magnificent crossover! I am truly sorry that it took me this long, but I had t write two essays at once, However I managed to work steadily on this one. You see, I haven't given up on this project yet and I hope I will be able to make a good fanfiction out of it. And I want to thank all my loyal readers who see potential in this and keep supporting me. Truly, your joy is my motivation to keep going.

But enough of my talk. Enjoy the brand new chapter. :)


Chapter 4: A dark enemy:

It had been decided. The team that would represent the guild at the Grand Magic Games stood.

Wendy gasped silently when she heard her name. Her big, brown eyes stared intensly at the master while she tried to find even the smallest sign, the tinest hint on him that would reveal that he was joking, that he just wanted to scare her for fun but in reality he had somebody else in mind.

But the master remained silent, his expression hardened, but not like he was concerned or worried, rather because he wanted to point out that he would not change his decision unless there would be a very serious reason.

Hawke saw how the blue haired girl quietly lookd at the ground. She was scared, there was no doubt and Hawke could understand it.

Wendy was still a child after all, and her magic wasn't offensive, she was a healer. That would be like sending Anders to the front line while fighting a horde of dark spawn. Hawke shook her head at the thought. Not a very smart move to be perfectly honest, however the master was no fool, chaotic sometimes, but not a fool. She wondered what he saw in her or did she not see everything? Either way the apostate decided to walk over to her.

Hawke knelt before the girl and carefully placed a hand on her shoulder. Wendy looked into her face, fear written into it.

A comforting smile spread on the face of the elder woman.

„Don't be afraid.", Hawke said warmly. „You'll be allright if you give it your best. I am sure the master knows what he does.", she reassured further.

Actually she was not so sure if the master was aware of what he did or if giving the best was enough, but it was not important either. What was important was that the fear abondened Wendy's face and Hawke smiled even brighter when she saw that the Sky Dragon Slayer smiled back.

„Right!", Wendy nodded.

The next moment Hawke found herself and Wendy surrounded by the other representatives. They looked into the grinning faces of Natsu, Gray, Erza and Lucy.

The scarlet haired warrioress stepped an inch closer to them.

„As long as we all work together...", Erza began her speech and Hawke understood that this was going to all.

...we will not fall, we will not fail..."

Everyone in the room fixed on her now. Even Cana and Isabela listened.

„...we will fight, until the very last second we shall not give up. They may think we are weak, but we will prove them wrong, prove to them what Fairy Tail really is. Remember your companions, your comarades, your friends, your family. Believe in them and we will be victorious!"

If anybody had any doubt about the tournament it was silenced with Erza's last sentence. Every mage in the room cheered and clapped to her arousing speech that set their hearts on fire. Hawke could see Aveline smile at her her widest smile she had. Varric was clapping and cheering with everyone else, so did Anders. Merrill looked at the armed mage with an undefinable expression and Fenris stared at her, mouth opened. Hawke went back on her feet and the moment she stood Erza once again comanded the masses. She tore her arm into the air, her index finger solely pointed at the ceiling. As Hawke began to wonder what that sign would mean Erza began to shout:

„FOR FAIRY TAIL!"

The mages responded the same way. They rose their arms like she did, like it was entirely normal to them to point at some imaginary point right above that Hawke couldn't see.

„FAIRY TAIL!"

Erza answered them.

„FAIRY TAIL!"

And they shouted back.

„FAIRY TAIL!"

And Erza replied with even more heated passion.

„FAIRY TAIL!"

And this time Hawke finally comprehended the dynamic which suddenly formed between the mages. Without further thinking she went with the crowd. She tore her arm high up like the rest of them. From the corners of her eyes she saw that Anders, Merrill and even Aveline and Isabela were captured by the wave of excitement that already had the others in its unbreakable grasp.

They shouted all together, simultaniously, like it was their war cry.

„FAIRY TAIL!"


Isabela watched Cana holding a card in her hand. On it was the face of a copper haired man and a hint of a beard. The brunette woman looked at it silently for a while, then a witty smile spread on her face.

„I told you, not to act like a father, old man!", she shouted and was about to tear the card apart. But before she could do so her hands were stopped by a darker skinned, gloved pair. Cana's dark purple eyes lifted to find Isabela's golden eyes locked on hers.

„Is this man your father?", the rivaini pirate asked.

„I...uhm...yes.", Cana muttered. The card mage didn't know what to make out of this situation.

„And what does this card do? It does something, doesn't it? You told me that your magic works through these kind of cards.", Isabela insisted to know.

„It's a phone card.", Cana answered and her voice gave away that she felt slightly cornered by Isabelas interrogation. When she noticed the puzzled look on the pirate's face she proceeded.

„He gave it to me, so I can call him, whenever I need him. Even if he is far away at the moment. He said he would come."

„I see...", Isabela mumbled and Cana could swear that there was sadness in her voice.

„But I don't want him to be like that, I don't need...", Cana began to explain her behaviour, but was cut off.

„Keep it.", Isabela said simply but determined.

„I don't need to...I mean I can take care of myself, I always did.", Cana responded then. Isabela only shook her head at that.

„Bullshit, sweetness. It's not about your need. But a paent's love and concern is a precious thing. Trust me, I know what I am talking about. Besides, you don't know if you really will not need him.", Isabela said, and with every sentence she said her voice became shakier.

Now Cana understood why Isabela wanted her to keep the card. She just wanted to make sure that her relationship to her father will not be lost and she comprehended that those were the words of someone who desperatly yearned for the love of a parent. The card mage wondered what might have happened to Isabela's parents or if she ever had any, but she decided not to bother the elder woman about it.

„Isabela...", she whispered, compassion wrapped around this name. She heard the pirate gulp quietly when she let go of her hands. They were wrapped around hers all the time, without moving even a little bit.

„Just keep the card. Excuse me...I need a drink.", Isabela said and walked passed the mage to Mirajane at the barcounter.

What Isabela actually wanted to say, and Cana knew that, was Keep your father and his love for you in your heart and never forget it, for it is the most precious treasure you will ever know.


„Alright! I'm so fired up!", Natsu shouted and bumped his fire covered fist into his palm. He stood between Lucy and Hawke, when he threw these words straight into Gray's face. Next to the half naked ice mage stood Anders, who was as little impressed as Gray by Natsu's little show act.

„Don't rush it, Flame-brain. We still got 3 months to go before you can fire anything up.", Gray comented.

„Shaddup already, will ya? What do you know about my strength, Stripper Freak?!"

„Enough!", Erza intervened.

„Yes!", both mages immediatly straightened themselves when Erza rose her voice to silence them.

They really reminded Hawke of Fenris and Anders and she wondered if Erza would manage to get her two self named bitter-enemies-for-a-life time to be so obediant like she did to Natsu and Gray. Or better. If Hawke herself, would one day get them to work together, only by her comand.

„However...", the scarlet haired warrioress spoke again. „...Gray is not entirely wrong, Natsu. Remember, we have missed 7 years, in which everything could have happened. Our old friends became stronger for sure and there might be others we still don't know to begin with. This means we have to use the remaining 3 months for a good training, to be able to stand even he smallest chance against the other guilds."

„And how do we do that?", Merrill asked. She wasn't sure how they wanted to compensate 7 years of missed evolvement in but 3 months.

Aveline, Varric and Fenris also gave Erza a sceptical look. By now Aveline and Erza had built up a close friendship, so she was sticking to Erza wherever she went, the same was for Hawke, Varric and Merrill towards Lucy and Fenris just followed Hawke around, so he also ended up in this little group discussion about magical training and strenght evolution. And Anders became close freinds with Gray and Natsu.

„How about we ask Porlyusika-san for help?", Lucy suggested after a moment of thinking.

„Not...that old witch again...", Fenris moaned.

„She is a bit...difficult sometimes, I admit. But she may know something that will help us with our training.", Lucy explained.

„And how would that ill tampared hag do that?", Varric asked. He still remembered their last encounter all too fondly. Quite lovely how she threw them out of her house after they just have awakened in a complete different world.

„Oh, I know! She's a healer, right? She may know some potion or somethin' that will give us a powerup boost!", Natsu spoke excitedly.

„I really doubt that this is possible through a potion, but we can try.", Anders said.

„So it has been decided. We wil first go to Porlyusika-san and ask her for help.", Erza determined their next step and everyone nodded. Perhaps she really would know something that could help them.


Deep in the forest of Magnolia stood Porlyusika in front of her small, wooden house, a garden scissors in her hand. She was busy with cutting the rose bushes into shape which decorated her front door. While she did that she enjoyed the peaceful silence around her. Only the chirping of the birds and the noise of the wind that danced through the leaves could be heard. She sighed satisfied. How she loved her solitude in the protecting mantle of mother nature.

Suddenly, the wind spead up. Its strength caused her pale pink hair to fly into her mature face, so she had to lay down the garden scissor to brush her locks away from her sharp red eyes. As she did so she saw that the sky darkened. Was this a storm that came unexpectedly fast?

Then a glass shattering voice found its way through the trees to her ear. It was a cry that could destroy the bravest hearts of the strongest mages and generals. The devastating cry of a dragon.

Porlyusika tried to determine the direction from which the mighty roar was piercing through the air. It was aproaching, and finally the sociophobe healer could say from where it was coming.

She turned around to the path in front of her that lead through the forest and to the city. The shadow of the beast ascended onto the ground and bathed her surroundings in even more darkness. Its deadly claws grasped the earth and almost tore parts of it including grass and roots with it away and its wing produced an unimaginable swirl of wind that Porlyusika feared her little house that suddenly seemed so fragile compared to the legendary monster, would be left as a bunch of dust, for a second.

Slowly the beast lowered its wings and the wind ceased. Porlyusika took a closer look at the dragon before her.

Enormous horns were growing from its head, golden eyes that stared firely at her, teeth as sharp as swords ready to tear her into pieces and dark purple skin that shined somewhat threatening as the darkness that formed around the dragon slowly escaped and let the sun shine onto it.

Every other man would be runnung for their life right now. But not Porlyusika. She stood calmly in front of the beast. Even if she knew the dragon could easily devour her by now, she knew it would not, for she knew who it really was.

The dark aura which darkened the day earlier appeared again but now circling around the dragon. Black light pierced through its cracking skin. The gigantic body slowly fell apart into a million pieces, releasing the radiating rays of the dark light from beneath,

First the light had no defineable form, then it shaped itself into a ball and when Porlyusika observed how it changed its shape into that of a human she couldn't help but grin a cruel, smug smile.

The human shape became clearer and clearer. First she saw the metalic headpiece of the woman, decorated with white horns which pointed behind her. Under it white long hair swirling around her mature face and neck through the wind. Golden eyes which reminded her of the eyes of a snake each time she looked at them, painted with dark purple eyeshadow and lips also painted with a dark red that almost seemed like black on her pale skin. Her dark red robe, laced with black feathers and metal pearls completed her intimidating yet fascinating look.

„Flemeth.", Porlyusika laughed an unhappy laughter.

Flemeth smiled as cruely.

„It has been a long time, my dear friend.", the mysterious witch of the wilds replied and gracefully walked closer to the healer.

„A long time indeed.", Porlyusika answered.

Flemeth stopped just an inch in front of Porlyusika. The pink haired woman fixed her gaze on the witch, expression hardened as if her face turned to stone. Only her breath extinguished her from a statue in that fateful moment.

„But my dear Grandine, why so cold?", Flemeth asked slowly, tasting out every word she brought out.

„Don't call me by that name...!", the other mage muttered. It was not the most welcome encounter, so much could be said so far. However it did not surprise Porlyusika really either. From the moment on she found Hawke and her companions in the forest she knew that it it was only the beginning of something greater, and it was only a matter of time until Flemeth would reveal her envolvement in the spiral of events that were still to come.

„Oh? My apologies. I forgot about this new life you started.", Flemeth than laughed

„So this was your doing, Flemeth.", Porlyusika confronted the witch.

„Could you be more precise? I did many things, you know. Like coming here and visit you, old friend.", Flemeth answered. Porlyusika gritted her teeth. Flemeth was not taking her really seriously. She played with her and it made Porlyusika mad.

„Stop playing around Flemeth. I'm in no mood for such pleasantries! If you have to tell me something then say it and begone!", Porlyusika then made clear. She was holding tightly onto herself for keeping herself from shouting.

„I have to tell you something indeed. But before I go on, a word of advice: Do something about this rudeness of yours. It is slowly becoming infuriating!", Flemeth answered and the calmness her voice had before slowly vanished with each word of her last sentence.

„It is none of your buisness. Say what you have to say and go!", somehow Porlyusika manged to remain collected. She didn't really know why she was so harsch towards the witch. It was not like Porlyusika would had any chance in combat against her, should it come to a fight. Pehaps it was because her spite towards the elder woman was even greater and thus more powerful than her fear from her.

„You can count yourself lucky that your death is of no use to me.", Flemeth answered now coldly. By now even her cruel smile had dissappeared from her wrinkled face.

„You are behind the portal, are you? You are responsible for Hawke's arrival in this world!",the healer then accused her.

„Yes.", the witch responded.

„You are admitting it?", Porlyusika asked.

„And why not? It will not change the situation if you knew. It is true that the elven mage played an important role in invoking the Eluvian, but it would not have been possible with my doing either,", Flemeth clarified.

„And what are your intentions? What are you aiming for by conecting two diffrent worlds to eachother through an unstabil portal?", Porlyusika demanded to know.

„Oh, Grandine. There are still dark clouds to come upon all of us. We will have to confront an enemy with power far beyond our comprehension. A few capable allies will be of utter importance.",Flemeth responded.

„So you are making alliances? Between Fairy Tail and Hawke?", Porlyusika tried to understand the witch.

„Hawke is fated to play an important role when doom comes for us all. What she decides will decide the destiny of her world. And the hidden power of Fairy Tail is unkown to the dark forces that are gathering their strength now. A great advantage, don't you think?",Flemeth answered.

Porlyusika gave her best to understand what Flemeth was up to. She could never undestand the witch and her moves. They always seemed ilogical to her, or at least at the beginning. However later whatever measures she took turned out to be decisive for her survival. Flemeth was planning ahead, so Porlyusika knew she talked about the future, though she did not know how she looked into it. But she did and she saw a dark future that interfered with her plans, whatever they were. To avoid that she wanted to use an alliance between Hawke and Fairy Tail which she believed was powerful enough to challenge this dark enemy she was talking about.

„And what is my role in all of this?", Porlyusika asked.

„You will see that Hawke and her companions will return when the time is right.", Flemeth answered.

„When shall that be, if I may ask?", Porlyusika asked once again.

„When it becomes possible. You will soon see, old friend.", the witch responded.

„And what makes you so certain that I will obey?"

„Oh you will do as I please. Not for me but for them. Even though you like to act cold I know deep inside you are not. Your compassion ultimatley will guide you, Grandine. And also, don't forget that I have means...to make you do what I want, If I wish to.", Flemeth clarified.

Porlyusika's breath quickened against her will and she gulped, a pitiful try to swallow her fear from the witch. Would she really...?

„And as we are talking our young friends are already heading to this direction. You shall tell them nothing of our little meeting, Grandine. Is that understood?", Flemeth comanded.

Before Porlyusika could think she heard herself answer: „Understood."

The elder woman smiled at that response. Then she walked away from her, back to the spot where she landed in her dragon form and turned around one last time.

„Until we meet again, Grandine.", she bade the healer farewell.

Once again dark clouds and shadows began to dance around the witch. Her body dematerialized and became one with the shadows embracing her and rose with them into the sky. However Porlyusika kept staring at the spot where she stood earlier. She didn't lift her gaze from it even when the dark clouds above her turned into the dragon from before that now flew away with its mighty wing beats.

Soon it dissappeard and the sky became clear again. The sun shined and the birds in the forest sang their songs as if nothing had happened. For Porlyusika the encounter felt somehow unreal now, like a dream. She placed a hand on her forehead and struggeled to keep herself standing, for she suddenly felt dizzy and a distand pain was spreading in her skull.

That was why she hated people.


„Who is this Porlyusika anyway?", Louis asked while he was flying next to Anders. The Warden thought for a moment before he answered.

„I don't really know her myself, but she is a healer and seems to avoid any kind of company."

„She is our Medical Advisor.", Erza then interfered.

„I thought Anders and Wendy-chan were your healers.", the exceed then said.

„That is true. But Porlyusika-san is older and wiser than Wendy-chan and Anders-san. She knows more of healing and deals with more...serious matters.", she clarified as an answer.

„I see. So you are not that great of a healer, Anders.", Louis then turned to Anders.

The mage frowned.

„What was that with 'You saved my life' and „If it wasn't for you, I would be dead. Please let me make it up to you'?",Anders asked in an angry, yet sarcastic tone. He saw Hawke smiling at them, clearly amused by their little argument. Anders blushed slightly and was relieved the next moment, when Erza announced that they arrived at their destination.

Before them stood the small wooden hut of the unfriendly healer. He hadn't really much hope for this, but it was for the others at least worth a try.

Erza was the one who aproached the door of the hut. Confidently she knocked at it and took a step back to wait patiently for the elder woman to answer. After a few seconds the door opened a bit, only enough for Porlyusika's head to fit through.

„What?", she greeted them as charming as always. Anders already knew it was a waste of time.

„Porlyusika-san. It is good to see you well and sound.", Erza pretended not to be offended.

„Ah yes, thanks for your concern, child but you cannot fool me. What is it you want from me that let you stumble in front of my door.", the healer asked sharply.

„We hoped that you cold help us with the Grand Magic Games, like give us a magical power up boost, Grandma Porlyusika!", Natsu shouted.

„Natsu!", Lucy scolded him. Anders rolled his eyes. Maker, did this guy know anything about tact?

„What Natsu was trying to say is that we would be most greatful if you could help us with our training, Porlyusika-san.", Erza attemped to correct Natsu and bowed before the elder woman. The people here bowed a lot before eachother, Anders thought while observing the armed mage.

„No, I cannot.", Porlyusika said quickly and was already closing her door.

„But-", Erza tried again but was cut off.

„I said no! Why can't you people understand that I hate humans-", Porlyusika responded angrily.

„But we aren't exactly humans...", Merrill attempted to convince her and pointed at Fenris, Varric and herself while she did so.

„-or any other creatures that can annoy me with their talk. Now leave!", the healer almost shouted and shut the door agressevly before them.

„What's with this old hag?", Fenris moaned annoyed.

„How exactly did she become your Medical Advisor when she doesn't want to to talk to anyone?", Varric asked, half angry and half honestly curious.

„She and Gramps are close friends.", Natsu answered.

And how is firendship possible with that sort of person to begin with?, Varric wanted to ask as well but ultimatly kept it to himself. There were just people who managed to get along with the most horrible persons in the world.

„And now?", Hawke asked.

„Guess we'll have to use the ordinary ways: Plenty of good training before the tournament. And let's hope our courage will be enough to win this.", Lucy suggested.

Just then they noticed a silent sob amongst them. As they tried to locate its source they saw that it was Wendy who was crying silently.

Immediatly all of them surrounded her. Even Fenris felt pity for the young mage as he saw her like that. Charle was trying to comfort her without any success.

„Aww, don't listen to her nonsense, little one.", Varric said as gently as he could and placed his hands on the girl's shoulders.

„Varric-san is right. She is just like that!", Lucy agreed and went next to Varric.

„N~No, it's not that...", Wendy sobbed.

„But what made you so sad then?", Varric asked.

„H~Her smell...", Wendy tried to explain.

„Her smell? She didn't seem dirty to me?", Merrill responded confused.

„I~It's like the smell of...Grandine...", Wendy truly struggled to bring anything out under her tears.

The younger guild mages froze immediatly and Natsu even began to tremble.

„What did you say...?", the pink haired dragon slayer muttered.

„What? What is actually happening here? Who is Grandine?", Hawke demanded to know. She and her companions were completly thrown out of concept by now.

For a moment Wendy tried to swallow her tears. She took a deep breath before she answered as her tears continued to roll down her cheeks.

„The...dragon who raised me...my mother..."

Hawke's eye's widened. Was that unfriendly woman really the dragon who raised Wendy? Memories of Flemeth flodded her mind when she tried to make this new gained information somehow comprehensible to herself.

„I'm not the Sky Dragon, child.", a female, rich voice said behind them. They turned to see Porlyusika standing behind them. Appearantly she decided to leave her hut after all.

„But your smell...", Wendy said.

„I know and it is long story that I am willing to tell you, to make things clear."

„Now this is sure going to be exciting. The smell of a person is a unique chracateristic. It cannot exist twice in the world.", Aveline explained and shot the healer a puzzled glance.

„Somehow I am Grandine. Your nose did not lie to you.", Porlyusika began. But this didn't clear anything up, it made the group before her look even more questioning. „And then you decided to leave the child behind, after you realized you hate people?", Anders asked sharply.

„I haven't finished yet, you fool of a healer!", Porlyusika shut him up. Fenris chuckled slightly amused behind him. Anders turned and gave a frown into the elf's direction which was honored with a witty grin that drove Anders nearly mad.

„You already know of Edolas.", Porlyusika began again. And when they nodded in agreement she proceeded.

„I am actually from Edolas. Long ago a portal opened and threw me into this world. Ever since I was not able to return nor had I the wish to. I am the Grandine of Edolas, Wendy."

Porlyusika exhaled after she finished her last sentence. Hawke and her companions looked at her irritatedly. So she, who found them, was also from another world? And they all began to wonder if it really was mere coincindence that she was the one who found them.

„So, you are ...not my mother?", Wendy asked depresssed and it broke Varric's heart.

„I am sorry, I am not.", Porlyusika answered with a slight hint of pity in her voice.

Wendy looked to the ground, almost about to cry again. Varric put one of his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close in an attempt to comfort her. He couldn't stand to see the child suffer this way before him.

„But I have met the Sky Dragon.", Porlyusika spoke again. Everyone looked at her again. Wendy suddenly rose her head and fixed her with her big, brown eyes, hope shimmering in her innocent gaze. All of them were curious about what the healer was about to tell them about the Sky Dragon. They eagerly awaited her response while the seconds seemed like hours as they passed during the silence that Porlyusika maintained.

„And she left something for you...", Porlyusika then proceeded. She moved her right arm behind her back and into her red cape. When it came out of her cape again she held a few sealed scrolls in her hand.

„These are for you...", she said warmly and handed them to Wendy. The Sky Dragon Slayer delicatly took them and eyed them for a moment, then gave the healer a puzzled look.

„These are powerful magical spells for you. Grandine entrusted them to me befor she vanished. She wanted me to give them to you, if I should ever meet you. She wanted you to master them and become a strong mage."

„For me?", Wendy asked timidly, tears began to fill her eyes again. The Medical Advisor nodded.

„This is her legacy for you."

„Thank you, Prlyusika-san.", Wendy sobbed and bowed deeply before the woman. Surprisingly Porlyusika smiled slightly at Wendy, but then turned around.

„But now, you should really leave. I have nothing else for you.", she said.


Later that day Lucy, Erza, Hawke, Varric, Merrill, Anders, Fenris and Aveline returned to the guild, without any clue how to start their training. Perhaps Erza was the only one who felt confident about herself nontheless. Wendy left the group and took only Charle with her. She had apologized as awfully polite as she was, while she told them that she wanted to try the spells which were described in the scrolls that Porlyusika had given her and went off. Lucy and Erza had calmed Varric down, when he had tried to object about the little girl wandering off in the forest on her own.

Soon after that Gray and Natsu had split off from the group, with the same excuse. However it was no surprise that these two, especially Natsu were keen on participating at the tournament, so it was only natural that they wanted to present themselves in their best shapes. And so the young men had taken their leave, acompanied by Happy.

Hawke sighed quietly when Mirajane put a mug of booze in front of her and took the seat right next to her. The mage rose her head to see that also Isabela was placing herself infront of her, with Cana at her side.

„My treat.", the pirate said.

„How...?", Hawke attempted to ask.

„Oh please, Hawke. Even a blind can see that you are concerned.", Isabela responded quickly.

„So waht's wrong?", Mirajane asked softly.

„It's just this whole situation. I am a little bit scared of the tournament.", Hawke admitted. They had been out to find a way to improve their abilities and came back without even the smallest improvement. How will they survive the Gand Magic Games?

„It will be allright. We will have a training camp the next three months. I am sure we will all figure something out.", Mirajane said.

„A training camp?", Hawke asked insecure. Mirajane nodded.

„We will travel to a place near the capital. It will be a combination of training and also a bit of vacation and fun time, to relax the nerves."

„Vacation, Fun Time? This sounds like something I like. Tell me more.", Isabela said and took a sip from her wine glass.

„As if you were so hard working...", Aveline interfered and rolled her eyes at the pirate.

„Hey, I'm taking as much part as you in Hawke's work.", Isabela responded.

„You are both great companions for ass kicking, please leave it there.", Hawke said, now slightly amused, then she turned to Mirajane:

„How can we afford this in the first place?"

„Don't worry about that. We still have some money for these kind of things. Also we are many, so we will have a discount at the inn we will be staying at", the white haired waitress answered.

„Just take the oportunity, darling and be thankful. Finally a bit of vacation for you. A nice change from all the politics and work you were doing back in Kirkwall.", Isabela said. Hawke nodded at that.

„Yes, I guess you are right."

„And when will we be going?", Anders now asked.

„In two days.", Mirajane responded.

„Yay, we are going to the beach!", Asuka shouted as she heard the others talk about the 3 months that were still to come. She sat on Fenris' lap and ate a small strawberry cake, the elf had bought for her. He had no idea what to think of that. What would he do, while everyone would be practicing magic? If he could he wouldn't go, but he had no other choice. Fenris hoped he would find plenty of other things there he could distract himself with, while the rest played Tevinter.

„And what will we do until then?", Merrill was the one to ask.

„How about you spend the afternonn at my place?", Lucy suggested.

„At your place?", Aveline asked surprised. The blonde mage nodded.

„Yes, you are our comrades now, so it's only normal that I should invite you for a visit."

„That's a great idea! Then you can show me your work, Princess.", Varric said happily and was refering to Lucy's writing she told him about when they first arrived.


So Hawke and her companions followed Lucy to her home, acompanied by Erza and Anders' cat Louis.

They reached one of the canals that flowed through the city. Lucy went straight to the edge of the pavement and walked on it. They followed her further as she balanced herself to her home. A boat passed through the canal. Two men were sitting in it:

„Lucy-chan, that's dangerous!", one of them shouted.

„Yes!", Lucy shouted back and they watched as the boat passed by. After another while Lucy stopped in front of a wooden door, right across the canal. It belonged to an orange painted house. It had a roof of red bricks and on the upper half a wooden balcony. Not a luxurious estate but still a lovely home.

Lucy reached for the bunch of keys which hung at the belt around her waist. As Lucy was searching for the right one among several others, Hawke noticed that there were many strange looking golden and silver keys. They didn't look like they would fit into any door or chest lock and she wondered for what someone would need that many keys anyway. Her thoughts were interrupted by the door that now opened, before Lucy could pick her key to open it herself. A short, dark haired woman with glasses on her nose stepped out of the house. She was old and her hands were put on her wide waist.

„Landlady?", Lucy muttered.

„I'm still waiting for the rent, girl!"

„I still don't have any money..?", Lucy stuttered again.

„Look, girl, your rent for the past seven years has been payed by someone else. I think you had plenty of time to come around with this months rent at least!", the landlady said.

Hawke felt sorry for Lucy. She could easily imagine that this place had its price and considering the guild's reputation it was only natural that she had not enough money. The Champion had seen the job requests on the board in the guild. There weren't really many jobs and the ones that were hanging there weren't even well payed either. And for the first time the thedosians received a diiferent impression of mages. Even Fenris had to admit, these people were ordinary beings, trying to make a living, nothing more.

„But I...", they heard her convincing her landlady quite unseccesfully.

„I will not accept further delays!", the landlady answered. And when everyone thought that they would spent the afternoon preventing the woman from throwing Lucy out of her home, Varric stepped in.

„If I may interfere, my lady.", the dwarf began and stepped between Lucy and the landlady. „And you are?", the landlady asked.

„Varric Tethras, merchant, storyteller, and uncle of this lovely girl right behind me.", he introduced himself and pointed with his thumb at Lucy. Said mage had a puzzled gaze on her face that expressed her confusion of this situation all too well.

Varric was going to lie for Lucy and she tried to prevent it but was silenced by Hawke.

„Just let him do his thing.", Hawke whispered to the blonde mage, while Erza was held back by Aveline.

„Oh really? It's the first time I hear about an...uncle.", the landlady responded suspiciously. Fenris had to surpress a chuckle.

„You see, I travel a lot and I don't find it very often in my time to pay her a visit. But that is not important, my lady. I understand that there are some financial issues between you two?", Varric spun his lie further.
„That is correct. I let the rent for seven be payed by someone else for her, but now that she returned, I think it is bearble for her to pay me for this month. I'm also trying to afford a living.", the landlady responded.

„Oh of cours, my lady and you shall not renounce this right. Allow me to pay for my niece's rent this month. She is really having a hard time right now.", Varric now said and grabbed something in his pocket.

„But...!", Lucy tried to decline Varric's help. The dwarf only shook his head.

„Take it as an apology that I didn't visit you any sooner, my dear niece!.", Varric than said and winked his eye at Lucy. Then he turned his attention to the landlady again.

„These are coins from the far lands I have been traveling through. They are pure gold and very valuable. Please accept them as payment for this month's rent, my lady.", he said while he put a small bag full of the sovereigns he happened to carry around. The landlady opened the bag to check its contents and widened her eyes as she found it full of gold coins. She opened her mouth to say something, however was silenced by Varric's hands that wrapped around her hand with the coin bag in it.

„I hope these will be enough, my lady", he said with a soft tone. The landlady blushed and smiled timidly.

„Oh, uh, more than enough, it would seem...", she chuckeled nervously.

„Good, I suggest you spent this gold on some lovely jewelry. I am certain an elegant necklace will bring out your majestic beauty just perfectly.", Varric purred. The landlady chuckled even more nervously.

„Oh, please, you emberass me...", they heard her say between her laughters. Hawke shook her head and sighed while she observed the show that the dwarf was putting on in front of her. Lucy, who stood next to her, remained silent and watched with round eyes and an opened mouth. She was too buffled to say or do anything.

„Allright.", the landlady finally said.

„Consider this and the next month as payed, girl. But the month afterwards I await your rent on time.", she ended. Lucy still couldn't say anything and just watched her landlady leave the house. She waved her hand at Varric and smiled at him sheepishly before she turned around the next corner and vanished.