Chapter 20: Hugs & Thugs
"I've already informed the old– I mean, the guild master of your arrival," Laxus told Vannessa awkwardly, once the three of them had reached the Magnolia train station.
Micaiah once again, had to hide her wolf presence away from the prying eyes of all the railway employees, from the guards to porters much to her dismay. She made a mental note to remind herself to complain about this 'lack of animal rights at train stations' to her wielder later on. Being the ever inquisitive one, Micaiah left Vannessa's side and started wandering up and down the hallway of the train, undetected.
Why don't they have a carriage built specially for wolves…? She thought indignantly. Really, this is evidence of animal contempt…!
She finally decided to 'take' one empty carriage for her own use while waiting for the nineteen-year-old, growling quietly at anyone who entered (those unfortunate passengers thought the carriage was haunted).
Meanwhile, the girl in question was outside of the train, trying to tear her brain apart to think of something to say. Her clutch on her satchel strap tightened as her knuckles turned white from the effort.
"Ano…," both of them began at the same time.
Vannessa's eyes widened as a blush crept onto her cheeks, dotting the skin with burgundy. "You first," she told him hastily.
Without another word, the twenty-two-year-old shoved a cloth bag into her face. The Dragon Slayer took it from him with a quizzical look.
"It's a little something," he responded exasperatedly. "From me."
She stared up at him in confusion. "You sound like you leaving for some faraway place," she laughed nervously.
Laxus's eyes widened at this.
She almost saw through my lie…!
"No!" he blurted out, without thinking. As if realizing his foolishness, he quickly recovered his composure and cleared his throat. "Don't be an idiot, brat! I told you I'll be done in a few weeks' time." "Okay!" Vannessa beamed.
It seems that her grin was infectious. He returned her smile with an introverted one. "I'll see you soon," the spiky blond male told her just as the steam whistle blew, signaling their departure. "Now get on."
The Dragon Slayer boarded the train but seemed to think better of it. Unpredictably, she threw herself into his arms and hugged him. The other mage's eyes widened in shock as he stared down at her mutely. No one had ever thought about giving him a cuddle, much less even do so much as to approach him like how Vannessa did. Finally, he lifted his arms and wrapped them around her.
"I'll miss you…" Vannessa whispered quietly. "Promise me that you'll come to the guild."
He buried his face into her soft pink hair, closing his eyes as if trying to remember her scent of cinnamon and jelly doughnuts. "Once I'm done," he reminded her gently. "Take care of yourself and that dog too." Somehow, he just did not want to promise her something that he knew he would break just like his father did, when he was young. They stayed like that for a moment longer before the deafening noise of the whistle interrupted them. Then, she stepped back and got back on board as the train started moving. She stared intently at him, memorizing his every detail.
"I'll wait for you!" she yelled out just as his face disappeared around the corner.
The tears came all too soon as she turned away from the doorway. Vannessa hastily wiped them off her cheeks as she began to make her way to where Micaiah was. It was easy owing to the fact that people were persistently staying away from one carriage compartment.
"Are you okay, Vannessa?" the Wraith asked her, as soon as she entered.
"Do I look like I am?" the nineteen-year-old sighed as she chose a seat next to the window and tossed her bag onto the one opposite her.
"I'm afraid not," Micaiah answered as she shifted back into wolf form and placed her head onto the Dragon Slayer's lap.
Vannessa stroked her fur absently as she fiddled with the drawstring of the bag, Laxus had given her.
"What's that?" the wolf asked her, nudging it with her muzzle. "It seems to have a familiar smell."
"Yeah…it does," Vannessa agreed, finally undoing the string. "Laxus gave it to me just now." There were a dozen or so of jelly doughnuts in the bag. She pulled out a card from amongst the pastries. It was handwritten in an untidy scrawl that could only belong to Laxus. He told her once before that he hated anything to do with pen and paper.
Hey doofus, make sure those jelly doughnuts last the whole trip, you hear me? Don't go stuffing yourself with them like you did last night. I'll send some pastries to you every week so you don't have to worry about starving.
"I'm no doofus!" the Dragon Slayer protested crossly, on impulse before realizing that Laxus was not with her anymore.
"Is something wrong, Vannessa?" Micaiah asked her as she furtively snatched one jelly doughnut from the open bag.
The nineteen-year-old shook her head quickly. "Just an instantaneous reflex," she muttered, nibbling on a jelly doughnut absently as she stared out of the window.
Just then, the door of their compartment slid open and the ticket conductor came in just as Micaiah shifted into her Wraith form with a faint pop. "Pardon me, miss?"
The girl looked up. "Yes?"
"I have heard some complaints concerning this carriage from the other passengers. Apparently, they heard some growling noises," he told her, looking around.
Vannessa had a pretty good idea who the culprit was; the Wraith was glaring accusingly at the man.
"Have you heard them?" he continued.
She shook her head innocently. "No, I didn't hear anything."
"I see," he said, nodding his head. "Well, pardon my intrusion." He tipped his hat slightly and left.
"I can't believe this!" Micaiah whined when she reverted back into her wolf form.
"Believe what?" Vannessa made no effort to cover her teasing smile.
The wolf paced up and down in a huff. "They seriously do not have any reverence for wolves!"
"Why, are you gonna start a campaign?" the nineteen-year-old suggested impishly.
"What a fine idea!" Micaiah agreed. "Maybe I should start one. Honestly, this is an utter abomination to the wolfies out there! I have to alternate between my forms at least sixteen times a day!"
"Sixteen?" Vannessa repeated. "You even count the number of times?"
Micaiah looked at her and nodded. "Yes, yesterday was no such exception."
Before the girl could respond, a loud and terrified wail rang out throughout the train. Micaiah froze as her ears perked up at the sound. "What's going on?" she demanded.
Almost immediately, Vannessa sprang out of her seat and headed towards the door. "Sounds like trouble."
Micaiah rolled her blue eyes and sighed, "This is the SEVENTH time I need to revert to being a ghost!" Then, the Wraith followed the girl out. "What an un-lucky number."
The Dragon Slayer approached the main compartment of the train cautiously, her heart pounding rapidly. She did not want anyone to become aware of her presence until after she had assessed the situation in there. She pressed one ear to the wall.
"We're going to hijack this train!" a man declared.
"I want all valuables to be handed over!" another men announced loudly.
Vannessa's eyes widened at this and she covered her mouth to suppress her gasp.
If they're going to hijack this train, then I won't be able to get to Magnolia Town…!
Just who are these clowns in the first place…?
"Micaiah, I want you to get in there and tell me how many of the thugs are there," the nineteen-year-old instructed.
"In times like this, at least this form is useful for something," the Wraith grumbled. "Though I pretty much prefer my wolfie form. Hmph!" Then she disappeared through the closed opaque glass door.
"That'll scare everyone half to death, Micaiah…" Vannessa said to no one in particular.
Before long, there was heavy treading of feet coming her way. The girl took a step back, looking around frantically for a hiding place.
Come on, come on…!
A few seconds later, Micaiah appeared with a hysterical look on her face. "Hide, Vannessa! They're coming!" The girl wasted no time in flinging herself back into her compartment and flipping the lock, as a safety measure.
"How many of them are there?" she hissed.
"Six," the Wraith answered promptly. "They're armed with weapons, though there are two of them who are mages."
"Great, this is just great!" Vannessa groaned sarcastically. "Really, I have not even reached Magnolia and already something has to pop out of nowhere!"
"We have to think of a plan!" Micaiah urged her as she changed back into her wolf form. "Those people are in danger!"
"I'm thinking but I can't seem to think of anything!" the Dragon Slayer protested, shaking her pink head in distress. "What are we supposed to do?"
"Don't look at me!" Micaiah argued. "I have no idea."
Suddenly, the sliding door started to shake violently in its frame.
"Boss, this door is locked!" a male voice called out.
The Dragon Slayer gasped as her eyes widened in horror. "I didn't think they would find us that quick!"
The wolf looked at her helplessly. "Of course they would! Trains don't have many places you can hide in! Now, do something, Vannessa!"
"Then break it down, you idiot!" came another voice.
Subsequently, the pounding started and the door began groaning its protest.
"Well, looks like there's only one place left since our only exit is blocked," the nineteen-year-old mage spoke up and pointed to the open window. "Come on!"
"You must be joking, Vannessa!" Micaiah screamed out as she hung onto the top of the train as tight as she could with her paws.
"No, I'm not! Just pray someone left a window open!" Vannessa called back as she slammed the window pane shut with her foot, before climbing up.
"Pray? PRAY? YOU WANT ME TO PRAY?" the wolf shrieked feverishly. "WE'RE GONNA DIE EVEN BEFORE I FINISH PRAYING!"
The Dragon Slayer knew that she was being impulsive when she suggested they escape out through the window. Her flowing pink hair smacked her face as the harsh wind struck at her with such an incredible force due to the high velocity of the train.
"Start crawling, Micaiah! Come on!" she urged her friend, ignoring the wolf's previous remark.
Bits of debris and dust flew into her eyes, making her vision watery with tears. Vannessa blinked furiously and forced her irritated eyes open. She would turn her head every few seconds to check on Micaiah. "Come on Micaiah, you have to trust me! I'll find a way to get inside, I promise!"
Her eyes widened in horror when she saw the tunnel in the near distance. "Micaiah, you have to change now! There's a tunnel up ahead!"
The wolf did not need telling twice. Once she was sure that her friend was safe, did she invoke her own magic. She forced herself into a crouch and leapt off, just as her wings sprouted out from her back and she took flight. The two of them pursued the train as it went into the tunnel.
"I'll find an open window for us," the Wraith volunteered.
Vannessa nodded as she hovered close to the top of the train, once it had emerged from the other end of the tunnel. It only took Micaiah a few minutes for her to find an open window. "There is one towards the left side, four doors down. It's an empty compartment."
Just as Vannessa's feet touched the floor, her wings disintegrated.
"This compartment leads to main one where all the hostages are," Micaiah told her as the two of them took their positions beside the door. "There are only two hooligans, none mages, guarding them."
"I suggest you remain in that form for now, Micaiah," Vannessa whispered as she exited out the door, stealthily.
The Dragon Slayer's ears strained for any noises that she found out of place, sifting out only the train's loud ones and the faint patter of her feet. There were none fortunately. Finally, she reached the opaque glass door once again.
"YOU ARE ALL COWARDS!" a young voice yelled out angrily. "WHY DON'T YOU PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE AND STOP BULLYING US?"
"What did you just say, little brat?"
Vannessa's eyes widened when she heard the soft click of a trigger.
That boy's gonna get shot if I don't do something…!
With trembling fingers, she reached out for the clasp and pulled the door open, deciding to trust Micaiah.
After all, the best defense is a good offense…