Author's Note: Well the girls are getting set to go on their second missions. And yeah I meant to add the s. The girls are splitting up. Enjoy the chapter and please review. Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: I own nothing from Fairy Tail. All rights belong to the writer and creator of the manga and anime show. The girls' powers are based off the elemental powers from Avatar: The Last Airbender. I own nothing from that show either.
Aurelia was making her way to the guild, by now a daily routine. She was looking forward to seeing everyone at the guild. They were a friendly bunch, and made for a cheerful atmosphere. Lately, the guildhall brought her relief from the tension that was building up at home. She and her friends had been back in Magnolia for a week now. Aurelia had hoped that the mission would have brightened Haleigha's mood about being stuck here, but that hadn't happened. Hel was still just as determined to find a way home as she'd been when they first arrived in this world. Aurelia didn't see the point. It had become obvious to her their first week in Magnolia that they wouldn't be finding a way home any time soon, but no matter how many times she pointed this out to Hel her friend just ignored her. And tempers were beginning to flare.
Just as Aurelia thought Hel should give up the search for a way home and accept that they would be stuck here for a while, Haleigha thought Aurelia should spend less time hanging out at the guildhall and more time helping her try and find a way home. It had been a lasting contention between them and Aurelia didn't fail to notice that Hel never griped about Kailani giving up the search for a way home. Aurelia had ignored her friend's snide comments about her being unhelpful, but last night she had finally snapped.
The two had gotten into a fool out screaming match, both trading as many insults they could think of. Haleigha had accused her of being lazy and selfish while she herself had called Hel an obsessive bitch. They would have ended up brawling each other if Lani hadn't been there to step in. She had ordered the two girls to separate until they calmed down. Aurelia had stormed to her room after that and beat the ever loving crap out of her pillow. Needless to say the two were no longer on speaking terms. When Aurelia had stepped into the kitchen this morning to grab a quick breakfast and saw Haleigha sitting at the counter on Kailani's laptop once again, she'd coldly ignored her. Hel hadn't said anything to her either.
When she finally reached the guildhall the relief instantly washed over her. Her fight with Haleigha vanished from her mind and she felt a smile spread across her face as she entered through the front doors. "Hey Aurelia, how's it going?" Macao greeted her.
"You're looking awful cute today," Wakaba commented giving her a once over.
Aurelia waved at the two best friends. "Hey guys!" she said cheerfully waving at them as she passed their table. Up ahead Lucy, Natsu, and Happy were waving her over to their table. She smiled at them and motioned that she was headed to the bar. She wanted a drink before she sat down with them. Aurelia hopped up on a bar stool next to Laxus who was nursing his own drink.
"Good morning, Aurelia," Mirajane said. "Did you want something to drink?"
"A mango smoothie if you don't mind," she ordered.
"Coming right up," Mirajane replied before slipping into the kitchen. Aurelia spun around on her stool and found herself staring at Laxus. After a while the lightening mage finally looked up at her.
"What do you want?" he asked grouchily.
Aurelia's smile widened. "Nothing," she replied cheerfully. "I just wanted to say hello."
"Well why not try saying hello rather than just staring?" he snapped.
Aurelia shrugged. "You looked like you were thinking about something," she responded. "You seemed to be having a hard time of it so I didn't want to interrupt."
Laxus frowned at her. "Are you trying to piss me off so I'll fight you?" he asked incredulously.
She laughed. "Piss you off? Maybe. Fight, no way," Aurelia replied. "I'm not strong enough to fight you…yet."
"Man, you're annoying," Laxus said as Mirajane came back out of the kitchen and placed her drink on the counter in front of her.
Aurelia laughed again. She picked up her smoothie and hopped off the barstool. Her gaze fell back on Laxus. "I like you, Spark Plug," she stated. "We're gonna be good friends, you'll see." She then made her way over to Natsu and Lucy.
"Great. Another Natsu," Laxus sighed watching her walk away.
Mirajane giggled. "I thinks she's sweet," she said wiping down the bar.
"Yeah, I like her," Bickslow agreed.
Laxus rolled his eyes at his teammate. "You just think she's cute," he accused.
"Well her ass certainly looks good walking away from you," Bickslow said, his tongue hanging out as he drooled over the blonde's curves.
"Yeah, well I can't deny that," Laxus replied turning back to his drink.
Aurelia smiled as she sat down across from Natsu and Lucy. "What's up guys," she greeted. "Anything new on the agenda?"
"Yeah, we got a job picked out!" Natsu exclaimed excitedly.
"Really? What are we doing on this one?" Aurelia asked.
"Well, we…"
"Hold on a minute," Lucy said cutting off Natsu. "Haleigha and Kailani just walked in. Let's invite them too. Hey you two! Over here!"
"Wait, no!" Aurelia cried.
"Huh?" Lucy replied confused.
"Don't you want them to come with us?" Natsu asked.
Aurelia sighed. "Hel and I aren't on speaking terms at the moment," she answered. "I kinda wanted to get away from her for a few days."
"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't know that," Lucy said. "But it looks like it's too late. They're already on their way over." Aurelia sunk back in her seat.
"We just won't tell them about the mission," Natsu assured her. She smiled at him and sat back up as Lani and Hel approached the table.
"You three look like you're in deep discussion," Kailani commented.
"Kind of surprising since you're talking to Aurelia," Haleigha remarked. Aurelia shot out of her seat and stepped towards her friend, fully intending to knock her lights out, but Lani stepped in between the two. She gave Aurelia a warning look before turning to Haleigha.
"Hel, go to the bar and get drinks for the two of us," she ordered.
"What kind?" Haleigha asked stiffly.
"Doesn't matter, just go," Kailani replied. Hel scowled but slunk off towards the bar.
Aurelia glared after her before turning her gaze to Lani. "I'm not putting up with her anymore," she declared.
Kailani sighed. "I know," she replied. "But it's hard enough being in the middle of a verbal fight between you two. Please don't make it harder on me by turning it into a physical fight."
"Fine," Aurelia said. "Besides you're about to have one less person to deal with for a few days. I'm going on a mission with Natsu and Lucy."
"Hey! What about me?" Happy cried indignantly.
Aurelia rolled her eyes. "And Happy," she added.
Lani nodded. "It's probably for the best," she said. "I think you and Hel need some space. I'll miss you though."
"Back at you," Aurelia replied and then glanced over Lani's shoulder and smiled. "By the way, Gray's staring at you."
"He is?" Lani exclaimed and spun around. Sure enough he was looking right at her. She turned back to her friend. "What does he want?"
"Sorry, I can't read minds," Aurelia said. "Here's an idea. Go over and ask him."
Lani rolled her eyes. "If I don't see you before you head out on your mission have a good time. I'll see you when you get back," she stated. "Good luck you guys!"
Aurelia sat back down and turned her attention back to Natsu and Lucy. "So what's the mission?" she asked.
After talking with Aurelia, Lani headed over to Gray's table. "Hey," she greeted. "What's up?"
"Nothing much," Gray replied. "What's up with Aurelia and Haleigha? They looked like they were about to get into it."
Lani groaned. "They're fighting. Look I really don't want to talk about it right now," Kailani replied.
"Then I won't ask any questions," Gray told her. "It sucks being caught in the middle."
"No kidding," Lani grumbled but then smiled. "Things should clear up for a few days at least now. Aurelia's heading out with Natsu and Lucy on a mission." She then frowned a little. "Why aren't you over there with them?"
"Oh, I wasn't interested in the job Natsu picked out," Gray replied. "I thought this one was more interesting." He laid his job request out in front of her. She leaned over the table and read the flier.
Find the Healing Stones of the ancient city, Krolis. These stones will help healers all over Fiore save lives.
Requested by: Healer Hackett Garth.
Reward: 100,000 Jewels.
"Sounds interesting," Lani said continuing to read the instructions about bringing the stones to the research healing facility in Fiore. "And a lot safer than the last job we just did."
"Yeah, well I kind of picked it out with you in mind," Gray replied looking anywhere but at her.
"What?" she asked blushing.
"Well, I thought maybe you'd like to go on a mission with me," Gray replied, "with…"
"Sounds go to me," Hel said cutting him off. "When are we heading out?" Kailani and Gray both stared at Haleigha, shocked. Lani felt her eye twitching. For a second she almost caused a scene even Aurelia would have been proud of. She'd been so close to getting some alone time with Gray, and of course Hel had to swoop in and ruin it. Somehow she managed to remain calm.
"Good question," she replied sitting down and shooting an apologetic smile at Gray. She didn't have the heart to tell Haleigha she really hadn't been invited.
Gray smiled back good naturedly. "I was thinking tomorrow morning," he told them. "We can meet at the train station."
Later that day Aurelia was stuffing clothes into the duffel bag she'd bought after the last mission when she'd found out a backpack just wouldn't cut it. As she stuffed her bag with a week's worth of supplies Lani sat on her bed venting. "I can't believe her!" she cried for the millionth time in a row.
"You could have just told her the truth," Aurelia replied digging stuffing the last articles of clothing into the bag.
"And hurt her feelings?" Kailani said. "I couldn't do that. She'd feel like I was ditching her."
"Yeah, well if you asked me she deserves to be ditched," Aurelia grunted just managing to get the zipper closed. She hefted the bag over her shoulder. "It especially sucks, because now I've got to take Bones with me."
"Oh please," Lani said snorting. "You'd miss Bones like crazy if you left him behind."
Aurelia smiled. "Yeah, but he still doesn't belong on missions," she pointed out. "Anyway, I gotta get to the train station. I'm meeting up with Natsu, Happy, and Lucy in a half hour."
"What mission are you going on again?" Lani asked following her out of her room.
"An archeologist requested a group of wizards to protect him and his team on their dig site," she replied. "They've been having trouble with bandits. That and they think the ruins are haunted."
"That sounds like more of a nightmare than a job," Lani commented.
"Oh please Lani," Aurelia scoffed. "I'm sure the ruins aren't actually haunted. It's probably just the bandits hiding out in them and disrupting things."
"Well haunted or not please be careful," Lani replied.
"I will," Aurelia assured her. "You be careful on your mission too. I hope you can manage to get a few moments alone with Gray." She smiled brightly at her friend before whistling for Bones. The dog came running. "C'mon Bones, we've got a mission to go on."