Mickey was laughing at her. Gisela could still see the smile on her partners face the next day. It was getting kind of embarrassing.
Really embarrassing.
"It not funny".
"Oh no, it is".
"No it's not".
"Yes it is".
I am not getting into this. "Why is this so funny to you?".
"You ran away!", Mickey crowed, "You just noped out of that,'' she took a breath, "you were all like frozen", Mickey did an imitation of some sort of flinching away pose, Gisela hoped that she hadn't looked like that, "and then you were like, 'when I get back but now Mickey and I have to go home' and you ran away!". Mickey started to cackle, "you ran away, from a little kid!".
"It still isn't funny. I have no idea how to be a teacher. I'm going to mess up and then Wakaba and Macao will be mad at me and-".
There was an impact on her head.
It was Mickey's fist. "What was that for".
"You were spiraling. You are going to be fine, just teach how you were taught".
Like that's gonna help. "I wasn't really taught magic in the fioran style through", Gisela tried to explain.
"What's the difference, it's all makers magic, right?".
Spoken like someone who doesn't use makers magic. Gisela pushed that uncharitable thought away and took a breath, trying to sort everything she had seen since leaving, "Fioran magic has more defined shape, it's all 'magic make:shape', I don't tend to call my attacks as much. It means that it's a lot more fluid, I can twist my clouds however I want, but I lose the power that giving them that definition would allow. It also has very different teaching precepts". She was pretty sure Mio didn't spend time learning how to be a cloud for one.
"Oh. Mio still needs a teacher though".
"She does have her father".
"Is she going to learn from her father?".
Gisela thought about the interactions between the two that she had seen. Thought about how grouchy Mio was all the time. "I don't think so".
They were silent for a moment, waiting for the train to come in. "Do you know why Mio and her dad don't get along". Gisela knew why Romeo wasn't getting on with his dad, but that didn't help much here. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to".
"Divorce I think, Wakaba spent enough time at the guild that his wife forced him to chose, her or Fairy Tail. He chose Fairy Tail".
"That sucks". Also not something I can fix. Gisela was perfectly aware of the fact that she was the last person to call on in the case of family problems.
She fidgeted, the metal of the bench pressing into her back as they waited for the minutes to tick down.
I wond-
Not thinking about that. "How does you magic work?".
"What?".
"I mean, you just asked me about my magic", Mickey looked something, it was putting Gisela on edge and she could feel her voice fading out, "if that's okay that is. I was just wondering how you got Pi-chan, you don't have to tell me or anything". Gisela finished, waving her hands in negation.
"You know Chico's soul magic?".
"Yeah". Oh boy.
"It's kind of like that. You make a pact with an animal, you bind your souls together and share magic, bringing out magic inherent in both of you that can not be unlocked by either of you working alone. I can't say much more through, family secret", Mickey said with a wink that just looked wrong.
"Cool. The punching-".
"Is just magic enhancement skills, I can't help that I'm so awesome I have two magic styles".
"It is pretty cool". The level of control that Mickey had over her punches was respectable to say the least.
Should I? It was risky, Gisela knew that, she just wanted to know. We are partners, it will be fine. "Did your whole family use magic?". It was hard to imagine that.
Mickey was silent for a moment, Gisela was just about to start babbling apologies when she spoke again, "yeah, to some degree, everyone in my family can train in our soul bonding magic".
"Why'd you leave?". It was out before Gisela could stop it.
Mickey froze for a second before shrugging, "I just felt like a change. I found my way to Fairy Tail and I really love it here, right Pi-chan!".
"Exactly. Exactly".
The whistle for the train nearly caused Gisela to rocket out of her seat, leading to her wenching something in the back of her legs. Note to self. Don't do that.
"Well, let's met the clients".
Meeting the clients was the worst part of any job in Gisela's opinion. There was always the gut wrenching feeling of wondering if she was enough, if they were enough.
It was like being judged all over again.
This time was no exception.
Gisela could see it in their eyes, in the way that there were bitten off questions and worries. Their clients did not have faith in them.
Mickey was picking up on said lack of faith.
I can do this.
All she had to do was play moderator for a few days. It was a one way trip. They would be fine.
I am not going to fail my first mission as an official member of Fairy Tail. Of Team Pi-chan.
Gisela held the resolution close, allowing in to crystallize in her chest, to keep her steady.
It was a nice day for all that it was late February, the walking wasn't bad at all. Gisela rode at the front of the caravan, helping the driver to keep watch. Mickey was at the rear, Gisela had figured it was probably better for Mickey not to have to deal with anyone if she was feeling prickly.
That did mean Gisela was stuck at the front though, awkwardly sitting next to interchangable men for hours in almost silence, listening as the wheels ground down the road. "So where did you get your fabrics from?", Gisela asked, shocked at her own boldness.
"Does it really matter?".
"Sorry". Gisela went back to watching the road. It was less risky than trying to talk to people. Stupid, she lectured herself.
Gisela was very glad she was able to keep a straight face when they asked for a break, it was finally a relief from the awkwardness.
She let herself relax for a moment, breathing.
I should try and talk to him again. I should have been less rude. It had been a random opening of the mouth during a long day of traveling and even discounting that he was the client, it was Gisela's job to keep the peace as best as she could.
"Excuse me?", Gisela asked one of the other members, "do you know where", she searched for a moment, "Marc is? I would like to talk to him".
"I think he just step out of camp for a moment", he obviously saw something in Gisela's face because he kept going, "don't worry though, he took a buddy".
"Thank you".
Gisela hovered awkwardly by a tree, trying to stay still as she waited.
"Having fun?".
"I'm trying. I need to apologize though".
"What did you do this time?". Gisela couldn't tell if that was accusing or not.
"I was just kind of nosey on the way up, I should have known better than to ask about sources but I was just kinda bored and-".
"Cool. Is that the guy you need to talk to?".
"Yeah".
Marc was back. Didn't he take a buddy with him? Gisela pushed that thought away, they had probably just split up already. Besides, if she thought too much about that, then it would become her next excuse as to why she could avoid talking to him when that was a Bad Idea and she needed to talk to him and-
Just do it! She snapped at herself and forced her feet to start walking.
"Marc?".
"Yeah?" he said with an awkward grin, sort of like he didn't know how facial muscles worked.
"I just wanted to apologize for-".
Marc flapped his hands in a strange manner, "no big, no big. Of course, if you want to make it up to me-".
A shiver went down Gisela's back. A bad one. For once she wanted to start talking if it was a way to keep Marc from asking for something. "I really am sorry. I wasn't thinking when I asked about supply lines. That was a rude question and I apologise. I hope we can make this a good working relationship", Gisela finished as she stuck out her hand.
The handshake was awkward too. It lasted a beat to long.
There was another shiver. This time Gisela felt her magic tingle.
Breathe. Gisela reminded herself, breathe.
She could feel Marc's eyes following her as she walked away.
He is just an annoying client. It is not that big a deal. It is fine.
Fine.
Fine.
Fine.
She was fine even if she felt gross and her magic wouldn't stop shivering.
She was fine.
Fine.
It was probably nothing anyways, just her being silly and awkward as always and-
"What?".
"Did the apology not go well?", Mickey asked, Gisela could see the concern on her face.
"I said sorry".
"Just?".
"Marc was kind of creepy? And when we shook hands he made my magic tingle".
"Tingle? How so".
Gisela paused for a moment, unsure and trying to search for the right words to describe the feeling. "Like he was reaching in, it was just wrong".
Something in Mickey's face hardened. "Give me a second". Mickey strode off, marching up to Marc.
They talked for a moment, voices hushed.
Then Marc offered his hand.
Mickey took it.
Gisela knew what Mickey was going to do a second before it happened.
Marc went flying.
Gisela could hear the scream of surprise from whoever had been standing beside Marc as he hurtled through the tree, the trunk cracking from the impact and a bird shirking above.
There was a moment of stillness before the yelling started, before everything broke into motion.
Except it didn't, not for Gisela. All she could do was watch the chaos unfold, trapped in her own body.
"What was that-".
Mickey held her hand out. "Wait". The stillness was still in her voice.
Marc's body started to glow.
Then it started to grow. The form expanded in the light, distorting as Gisela watched.
This is not good.
"Get back", someone was shouting. Gisela was pretty sure it was herself.
The glowing body was even bigger now, distorting in squares. It towered over the both of them.
"Decided to reveal yourself, vulcan?".
"That wasn't very nice", a high eerie voice complained, "what if I had been whats his name?".
"You weren't. Now let his body go, now that we know you are here you can not learn this group off".
"I think", the punch was easily telegraphed as Mickey flipped backwards, "no".
"Very well".
Then it was time to fight. Gisela spring boarded in, using a temporary boost from summoned clouds.
Mickey pushed forward.
Gisela blocked a blow from behind her, using her clouds to distract the vulcan.
They kept pushing.
This isn't so bad.
For a moment Gisela hadn't realized she had been hit. It all happened so fast.
One moment she was fighting.
The next she was flying. And not of her own volition.
I just hit a tree!
It was a funny thought until the pain hurt. Gisela didn't have anymore time. The second creature was already on her, she could hear it screeching through the hasty erected shield of clouds.
She breathed, trying to tell if her body was still holding up.
It felt like one great bruise. Still, there was no rattling, no taste of blood.
Physics in this world are absolutely ridiculous. So are bodies.
It was the last extraneous thought she had time for. It was back to the fight afterwards, using low hanging clouds to ensnare the beast as she tried to get a hit in.
I need more strength.
Knowing what the problem was did not mean that Gisela knew a solution. She tried to coat her hands in clouds.
Wound up as she slid under the fist.
Punched forward.
It worked.
Suddenly it was the vulcan impacting the ground, a crater shaking out around him. Gisela didn't give him any time to think as she pinned him down with bands of clouds.
"Cloud hail:", Gisela commanded, drawing inspiration from something she had seen Max do a few brawls ago as she shouted, using the words for extra focus, "bults". They darted forward with a wave of her hand, half her focus on making sure they were solid.
It was simple to keep them coming, keep them pounding.
There was no way that she could match a vulcan in brute strength, but this, this she could do.
The creature started to glow again, the vulcan form melting away and glowing. Suddenly there was a burst of light and the sound like a cork popping from a bottle.
There was a man in the bottom of the crater.
Marc's partner?
She looked over him quickly, he was bumped but there was nothing about him that showed that his life was in danger.
She knew someone whose life was.
Gisela didn't have anymore time to worry about it. She was running, leaping over a branch that she was pretty sure that she had hit on the chaotic and unwilling flight out as she summoned her cloud.
There were three vulcans around Mickey now. She was braced, Pi-chan beside her as one of the fists came down.
The world was going to fast.
Later Gisela would know she had summoned another cloud hail in an attempt to push Mickey out of the way,
Later Gisela would know that Mickey had been braced, had had a plan even if she didn't want to go into what said plan was.
At the moment there was none of that.
Then there was wood and sand joining her clouds.
Mickey knew that magic
Laki. Max.
With the two more Fairy Tail mages it was over in minutes.
They danced around the vulcans, restrained them.
The vulcans glowed golden. Then they were gone.
In their place were three people. One of them was Marc.
Gisela didn't recognize the other two and definitely didn't know them. One of them almost looked like he had dog ears, she really wanted to know what type of cosmetic magic he used, and the other one had the most impressive eyebrows she had ever seen.
They were not and inconspicuous duo.
"Lamia Scale!", Mickey said, pointing to the guild mark.
Gisela hovered awkwardly as Max, apparently the most capable of the group with first aid, dashed down into the crater.
It wasn't a consolation really, but Gisela could tell that the rest of the caravan was feeling as awkward as they were. Mickey had peeled off with Laki to discuss the vulcans with them.
Which left Gisela at loose ends.
She stared at the knocked out Lamia Scale mages as Max finished checking them over. "They'll live", he said, "I just wish we knew what they were doing here?".
"What they were doing here?".
"Vulcans are greedy spirits possessive spirits, every now and then basically everyone has to run missions to exorcise them or otherwise weaken them. This close to Magnolia the job should be going to Fairy Tail. What I think happened is just that they tried and failed and the vulcans moved with their bodies over here".
"But you are still worried about the alternative?".
"Not really. We get along well with Lamia Scale".
"Do you know their names?". It was weird to just be staring at them and calling them Dog-Man and Eyebrows.
"Grey mentioned them once, their names are Toby", that was dog man, and "Yuki".
"Cool".
There was not much else to do but wait. All the chaos meant it would take too long to get back on the road.
A question hit Gisela. Max is nice. It will be fine."Why are you guys here? Not that I'm not grateful because-".
Max held up his hands to stem the flow of words, "vulcan mission".
"Like those two?".
"Yeah, I wonder if they are forming a pack?".
I forgot! There was something Gisela needed to say. "Thank you".
"Didn't we already go through this?".
"I didn't say thank you though, I just said sorry".
"You don't need to do either.''
"I don't?".
"You're Fairy Tail. You're my guildmate. Of course I'm going to help you when I'm in the area, you'd do the same for me".
He was right, suddenly Gisela felt ten times lighter. "Thanks".
There was a groan from the ground, Max broke off conversation to knee besides Yuka. "You feeling any better? Those vulcans got you good".
"- you?".
"I'm Max Alors of Fairy Tail with Laki Olietta, Mickey Chickentiger, and Gisela. You're safe now".
"-ulcans?".
"Dispersed for now, through Laki and I will be continuing our mission to take care of anymore in the area. Is that your mission too?".
Max's sand was lifting Yuka up, giving his back support so he could sit.
It was an impressive example of just how good Max's control was.
"Yes. Where are we now?".
"About a day away from Magnolia".
"Our apologies for coming by unannounced".
"Not your fault. I'm assuming there were a lot of vulcans".
"At least thirty. We dispersed most of them with a combination of my wave and Toby's paralysis but-".
"There's always that last one. You guys did good to get so many through".
"Thanks". Gisela hoped that she had only imagined that hint of bitterness. "Will Toby be awake soon?".
"He looks a little more beat up than you, but he should be fine. Are you guys going to continue the job?".
"Yes. Why?".
"It's our job too, and considering that the vulcans we were hunting turned out to be you it is likely that both packs are one".
"How big a pack would that be?". Gisela slapped her hands over her mouth as both Max and Yuka stared at her.
"Very big", Yuka said dryly beforing switching back to Max. "I am assuming you are suggesting a collaboration?".
"It would be in both of our favors. Besides, our guilds have worked together well in the past".
"Lets see how Toby is doing, we can decide that in the morning".
Of course, the second they said that was the second Toby got up, lunging as Gisela threw up a cloud wall to protect herself from the sudden attack.
People were shouting.
Then it was over.
"I'm sorry", Gisela blurted out. "I'm sorry".
Toby howled for a moment. Then he bowed. "I'm sorry, I thought we were still fighting".
It was so awkward.
Thankfully Max picked up on it, pulling both Yuka and Toby into a conversation while Gisela got out of there.
I need to calm down.
It was a natural reflex. Gisela knew that.
It was also a symbol of how she was changing.
I know I am changing. I know I am not who I once was. I need to make my peace with that.
Or she could distract herself.
"We have a plan?", Gisela asked quietly as she slipped beside Mickey, Pi-chan perching on her shoulder.
"Yeah, we are leaving again tomorrow"
"Are the Lamia Scale group coming with us".
"I don't know".
"But you were just talking with them".
Gisela thought of Toby, thought of her own reaction. She winced. "I messed up".
"How?".
"Toby woke up swing. It startled me".
Mickey laughed brightly. "That doesn't sound like your fault. Leave it for tomorrow, we did good today".
"We did?".
"We protected the caravan. Thats counts as good, we can figure out the plan with the others tomorrow".
"If your sure".
"I am".
It would be okay, Gisela told herself. She trusted Mickey and Max and Laki. She would keep watch and deal with tomorrow as it came.
I would be okay.
All she had to do was keep telling herself that.