Ch. 13: Reunions
A/N: Hey everyone! I hope that you enjoy this chapter too.
Lora sat up on the couch. She was living in her sister's apartment for the time being. Her only condition to staying here was to sleep on the couch, that way her sister could have privacy with her boyfriend. "I don't want to hear any strange noises tonight you two!" She remembered scolding them. She chucked as she recalled the tomato red faces she had produced from the two of them. It was nice being with them again.
She sighed in content as she reached over to get more thread. She would be making her new outfit. She had been making clothes since she was at the Velandia Manor in secret. It came in handy when she was at Sin's Elite; especially when Aiden declared he wouldn't provide her with any more clothing than a raggedy white dress. Just thinking about the man made Lora sew a bit faster, almost nipping her finger.
After a few more hours, her outfit was complete and the couple had risen from their sleep.
"Lora? How long were you awake for?" Erza asked while rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Natsu nodded through his yawn urging the older woman to answer.
"Oh good morning guys!" Lora greeted moving in front of her outfit, "I woke up at four o' clock and I've been sewing ever since."
She moved out of the way to show them the figurine that adorned her latest creation. It was a emerald green deep cut sweetheart crop top lined with wide sapphire blue rings. The pants were similar to Natsu's but had the same scheme as the crop top and was wrapped tightly around the waist with black wrappings. Tied to the figurine was big, beautiful bangles; one brown and cerulean while the other was light green and brown. Simple dark brown flats lie on the ground before it.
Erza and Natsu's eyes lifted a bit from the masterpiece before them. It looked as though it was crafted by a professional.
Lora shifted excitedly, "So what do you think?"
"It's amazing!" Natsu said in awe, beating Erza to it.
"Wow Lora, you need to start making me clothes more often!" Erza smiled, caressing the soft fabric.
"Me too!" Natsu added, his eyes gaining a cheerful light.
Lora nodded, chuckling at the two. She then went into the kitchen to make them breakfast.
"I'm going to make real food okay?" Lora glared at Erza, "So that means no strawberry cake."
Erza's lip protruded a bit as she made her way over to the table to sit. Natsu laughed at her and soon was rubbing the steaming bumps on his head he received from Erza and Lora. He went to retort but kept his mouth shut once he saw the looks the girls gave him. Scary...
Lora set the plates down in front of the lovers and piled food on them. She then began to eat what was leftover. Natsu immediately began to engulf his plate, causing Lora to smack him upside the head.
"Slow down or you'll choke!" She yelled, making the pink haired mage eat slower than usual.
"S-Sorry Lora-san!" Natsu squeeked, his mouth full of food which made Lora cringe and scold him some more about manners.
"Just like an older sister." Erza thought, smiling to herself while she ate her food.
The trio walked to the guild, chatting about everything that Lora had missed while she was in jail. By the time they had gotten to the guild their faces were red from laughter. Erza had never laughed so hard in her life.
"I wonder what the guild will think of my new outfit..." Lora pondered aloud, swinging open the doors.
.
.
.
"What are you doing here?!" Lora screamed, pointing to the male figure who was talking to Makarov.
The man smirked walking over to Lora and pulled her into a hug, "I've missed you Lora."
The whole guild looked on in wonder. Who was this man? He had just waltzed into the guild and began talking to the master as though they were old buddies. And Lora's "greeting" didn't ease their minds on who this guy could possibly be. Even team Natsu had no clue about who the man was.
Lora tried to push him away but the man kept a tight grip on her. He craned his neck down a bit to where his lips were by her ear, "Reveal who I am and I will blow up this whole guild. Now tell them that you need to leave." He lifted back up and watched as Lora's face contorted with worry.
She slowly wrapped her arms around him and inhaled his scent. Part of her did miss him, it wanted her to stay by his side forever. However, the other part of her wanted him dead for even threatening to put harm to Fairy Tail and that side of her burned with great intensity. She gritted her teeth before saying her next words.
"I'll be back soon everyone, I have to...take care of some business." She said, allowing the man to lead her out of the guild.
After walking to the outskirts of the city and into the forest the man turned to Lora.
"What do you want from me Marius?" Lora asked, keeping her guard up as she stared straight into his amber eyes.
"I want us to be together again. We don't have to go back to Sin's Elite, we can go somewhere else. Far from Magnolia!" He pleaded, holding Lora's shoulders tightly as he searched her dulling brown eyes.
Lora softly shrugged of his hands and began to step back from him. Her eyes shifted downward for a second, before she looked back at him.
"I know what you want Marius. I will not be apart of that ceremony. This is the Etherion talking, you are being controlled."
As she was about to turn around and walk back to the guild, she heard ominous laughter spill from his lips.
"Attack Lora now! Marius is about to strike you!" Enyo warned, her voice heavy with anxiety.
Lora was able to catch Marius' fist and fling him away. Once he hit the ground she turned to blast a beam of light into Roy's stomach, causing him to cry out in agony. Marius scrambled up and sent a Earth God Slayer attack Lora's way, which she swiftly dodged in time to where it hit Roy instead. Roy was knocked unconscious by the attack and Lora remained unharmed.
"Manipulation technique: Top Speed!" Lora weaved behind Marius and clocked him upside the head to send him into unconsciousness as well. After succeeding, Lora took one last glance of the two men before teleporting back to Magnolia.
"I wonder where Lora is. The last time she left in such a hurry she..." Happy said, trailing off once he saw Erza close her eyes and Lucy shot him a glare. He put his head down in shame.
"Don't put yourself down Happy," Erza assured, "She will be back this time. I know it."
Natsu scooted closer to Erza and pulled her in closer. He leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead. She smiled softly; thank you.
…
Lora stood outside of a nearby store, looking at herself through the glass windows. She ran a hand through her medium length black hair. Her eyes were lighter than their original dark brown color, they resembled Wendy's in a way, just duller but vibrant like Juvia's. She looked nice even though she felt torn apart. Why now? Why did they have to come now? She tore her gaze away from the window and began her journey back to Fairy Tail.
Finally, she was at the huge doors of the guild. She opened up the door and watched as the guild instantly focused their attention on her.
"Where were you?!" Lucy exclaimed rushing over to the woman and began examining her for wounds, sighing in relief when she saw known.
"Who was that man?" Erza asked.
"Reveal who I am and I will blow up this whole guild."
Lora shook his voice out of her head and bitterly thought,"Over my dead body."
"It was Marius."
The guild went silent. The same man who had hurt Natsu and is trying to kill Lora had came to the guild. How did they not notice?
"He had used a cloaking spell to make you see a completely different person. I'm sad to admit it but I was the one who taught it to him when we were children. Who knew it would come to this?" Lora explained, shaking her head in sorrow.
"He, along with Roy tried to take me hostage, yet Enyo was able to warn me just in time before I could be harmed. Before I came here I placed them into a forest far out of Magnolia after I knocked them out."
"Now I want to spend the rest of my time with you guys! Come on I've been gone for too long I want to make up for lost time!" Lora chirped, taking Lucy and Juvia by the hand and jumped around happily.
She was able to turn the whole atmosphere from tense to one of pure levity. It made Makarov's lips turn up in a smile as he joined the guild in the merriment. Lora was always known for lighting up a room.
"Okay Wendy now concentrate your magic into your hands." Lora instructed, taking the petite girl's hands into her own larger ones, guiding the girls hands to the front of abdomen.
"Are you ready?" Lora asked after letting Wendy's hands go.
Wendy nodded, "Tactis Sanifer!"
A light began to flow gently from Wendy's hands and over the scar on Lora's stomach. The scar slowly began to go away before it was completely gone. Lora laughed as she took Wendy into her arms, surprising the girl.
"You did it Wendy! I knew you could do it!" Lora cheered, spinning Wendy around before placing her back on the ground. Wendy giggled, a light blush on her face. She had finally learned the spell after ten tries. Luckily, Lora kept persuading her to continue and made sure to guide her through every step.
"It was thanks to you Lora-san. I know I couldn't have done it without you." Wendy said softly.
Lora only smiled knowingly, "Wendy this was all you. I knew you had the potential to pull of this spell. All I did was tell you about it. You are becoming quite the sky sorceress."
Wendy stared up at the older woman in shock. She hadn't really been praised like this a lot. She usually put herself down over everything. So to hear Lora give her praise it made her feel special—stronger. She felt tears prick her eyes and launched herself into Lora's abdomen. Lora eyes widened, she began soothing the younger girl's sobs by running her fingers through her dark blue hair.
"It's okay Wendy. I am so proud of you." She cooed, wrapping her arms around her.
Team Natsu looked on at the sight in front of them with soft smiles. Lora truly was an older sister figure, some could even say a mother too.
Wendy's sobs had quieted down as she was lulled to sleep by Lora's soothing words.
"I'll see you guys later, I'm going to drop Wendy off at her home." Lora announced, being mindful of the girl who was cradled in her arms. Erza nodded, walking back into the guild with her friends.
Lora walked through Magnolia to head toward Fairy Hills, Carla flying by her side. The moon shone above them brightly, the sky painted various shades of dark blue and wisps of dark purple clouds added to the scenery. Lora admired it as she stepped on the gray cobblestones below her.
"Carla?" Lora called, making the white exceed look her way.
"How long has Wendy been doubting herself?" Lora asked, it had been bugging her for a while, especially when Wendy kept putting herself down during her first tries of the spell.
Carla quirked her eyebrow, "Wendy has always been doubtful of her potential. Her being the youngest dragon slayer doesn't help either, with Natsu and Gajeel she feels the need to be strong like them. But she holds herself back a lot."
Lora looked down at the peaceful look on Wendy's slumbering face, "I see."
Carla's lip twitched up into a small smile, "Thank you for not giving up on her Lora."
Lora smiled back, "It's no problem. I know that Wendy can do great things, it is my duty to help her get to those places when I can. And I know Fairy Tail is good for the both of you; a place where you belong, where you can grow."
She sighed in content, "Being there is perfect for being yourself and finding security from all negativity. In Fairy Tail we are all family."
Carla listened to Lora and felt empowered by her speech. Family. Just what her and Wendy needed after Cait Shelter disbanded.
"Oh I almost forget to ask,"
Carla turned her head to see Lora smirking deviously at her.
"How are you and Happy?"
Carla's face immediately went red, "There is nothing between me and that...that!"
"Adorable exceed?" Lora suggested, wiggling her eyebrows teasingly.
"Yes that adorable exce-! Wait! No I-I meant! Nevermind, I'm going on ahead!" Carla fumed, her face redder than earlier as she flew straight to Fairy Hills, leaving a hysterical Lora behind. Fortunately, Wendy was a deep sleeper...
Once Lora made it to Wendy's room, she gently placed the girl under the covers and tucked her in. She placed a kiss on her forehead before turning off the lights and locking the door behind her.
"Another day well spent." Lora said aloud walking into Erza's apartment, placing her shoes off to the side and plopped herself on the couch, falling into a deep sleep.
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Thank you for all of your support everyone! Without you guys I wouldn't be able to grow as the writer I am today. I hope that these chapters bring you as much happiness as they give me when I create them~! See you in Ch. 14: The Will!