Hello my dear readers! Sorry sorry, I know I am a little late! I am going to publish another chapter in the next few days, don't you worry ;)
I have also promised you a special chapter for the New Year's Eve... It is coming, lovelies! Just be patient one week more!
For now, let us go back to Magnolia...
That morning Dalila woke up with puffy eyes and a strong headache. Her temples were hurting as if a spear had been stuck there for the whole night, but thankfully Porlyusica had a medication - smelling of lavender and citrus - that gave Dalila some relief after a couple fo hours.
Just in time. In the moment the wind dragon slayer stopped feeling as if she had just come down from a rollercoaster, Lucy knocked at the door. "Hello Dalila! Can I come in?"
"Sure!" Dalila sat straight on the bed and did her best to smile to the Celestial mage. "Hello Lucy!"
"Hi!" Dalila sat straight on the bed. "Sure!" she did her best to smile back.
"Hello!" Lucy smiled brightly back at her. The Celestial mage couldn't help her chest tightening a little as she saw Dalila's red eyes. But the girl gestured her to come closer and sit on the bed.
"How do you feel Dalila?" asked Lucy sitting down. She had definitively been crying a lot... But I am afraid this can't be helped...
Dalila grimaced. "I had a bad headache when I woke up, but it's ok." she let out a small smile. "I can't wait Porlyusica to give me permission to drink coffee! I am not really myself without it in the morning!" Her voice was cheerful, and her eyes, even if still worn out from the tears of the night before, were sparkling in the morning light.
Dalila didn't want to sound too harsh or grieved. It's not like crying the whole day is going to bring me back on one hundred years. she thought. Moreover, from their discussion of yesterday, Dalila knew Lucy could understand her situation better than anyone else. And They both knew that the best cure for something they could not change, was to look forward and not lose heart at the first hurdle.
In particular, for that day Lucy had planned to ask Dalila if there was something she liked to do for that day, maybe something they could do together, or maybe if Lucy could gave her some books, if she wanted to read?
While looking for the best way to start a conversation in that direction - Maybe I should wait another day or two... was thinking Lucy - Dalila came unexpectedly to her aid.
"You have told me so much about yourself yesterday," smiled the wind dragon slayer, drying a little tear that threatened to escape her eyes. "maybe today is my turn!"
Dalila understood that Lucy knew a thing or two on music. The Celestial mage had told Dalila about how her mother used to play the piano and sing with her, and sing, and she had also been taught the piano for several years when she was younger. Lucy had also confessed her that she had wished to have a piano at home - or at least, to have a place where she could play, and maybe even a teacher, "There are so many things I don't remember anymore!" she had complained.
Music... With Dalila, is was like forcing an open door. "I am a musician." she blurted out. "A pianist, and a singer, in fact."
Lucy blinked once. Then blinked again, not sure she heard well. "What?" she stuttered. "You are a... a piano player?"
Dalila chuckled, lifting her cured, delicate hands. "Yes madame." she waved her fingers in the air, playing an imaginary keyboard. "To be precise, I am a music teacher. Not exactly a performer, because Linveland was a small town and we had little occasion to perform on stage, but they always managed to make me sing or play and parties and fairs..."
But Lucy was not really listening to her. She clapped her hands happily. "I have never met a musician before!" she squealed. "And a teacher! You could teach me, I would be so glad! How beautiful!"
"Are musician so uncommon in year X792?" giggled the wind dragon slayer, a little taken aback from that passionate reaction.
"And children!" Lucy eyes were sparkling with joy and excitement, completely ignoring Dalila's question. "Did you teach to children? Did you worked in a school or did you had your own class?"
"I worked at the local music school." Dalila scratched the back of he neck, embarrassed. "I was one of the youngest teacher, and my pupils were six, or seven. Eight at most. I had a dozen of them."
A stabbing pain cut in her chest, and Dalila felt something inside her grew colder, as she said those words. My pupils... she repeated the words inside her head. As the rest of the er pupils were gone. She just realised that.
Lucy was too enthusiastic of her discovery to notice, and Dalila felt grateful for it. That's a fact, the reality, she thought, but I can say I tried to be the best teacher ever. It was of little consolation, but it gave her the strength not to burst into tears.
"So, you can sing?" Lucy was so happy she hadn't realised she was swinging with her whole body. She had yet to stop clapping her hands. As soon as the Celestial mage calmed herself a little - none of the two girls noticed Porlyusica emerging with her head from her room, where she had holed up as soon as Lucy had entered in the infirmary. The healer looked rolled her eyes, and closed the door quietly behind her. Singing! she huffed, going back to her potions, Nothing but a singer! As if a dragon slayer was not obnoxious and noisy by himself alone!
But despite the scowl written on her face, Porlyusica tended her ears, when she heard Dalila asking "Do you want me to sing something for you?"
"Oh!" Lucy beamed, her eyes glowing. "Could you sing for me really?"
Dalila giggled. "I said I am a singer, so yes! You showed me your magic yesterday, didn't you?" The look in Lucy's eyes was the same Dalila had seen many times in her little students. She remembered so clearly those amazed expressions, when she sat on the piano and started playing and singing for them.
"I can't tell it will be my best performance, but I can try!" said Dalila with a big smile. After one century in complete silence, she was not sure her voice would have performed as always. Well, it is worth a try, isn't it? It's not like we are on stage.
"Which song would you like me to sing?"
"Uhm..." Lucy thought. It occurred to her on that moment that Dalila and her might not know the same songs. "Just something you like!" she said in the end, nodding.
Dalila was thoughtful for a moment. She knew many songs, and she could play and sing at the same time of course. From the depth of her mind, a melody started to surge. I am not even sure if I remember the words... was the first thought of the wind dragon slayer. But then, she shrugged it away. Of course, the words were going to come to her mind as soon as she started to speak. The water doesn't flow if the facet is closed, right? she thought, clearing her throat.
Lucy shut up immediately, and made herself ready to listen. She had recognised the melody and the grace in Dalila's voice in the moment they started to talk, and was curious to hear the wind dragon slayer singing. Would she be good?
"I am not sure you know this one," Dalila straightened her back. Force of habit, before starting to sing. "And it might be a little bit... sad as a song. But I..." Dalila hesitated, "The moment calls for it, and I could not lie to music, singing something lightheartedly. I am glad to sing it for you, and I hope you will like it."
I could not lie to music... Lucy mentally savoured those words. A long, distant memory came back to her, and she heard a voice she could never forget, speaking to her in a soft tone 'You can't lie to music, Lucy. It takes out all that you have, and gives it back to you transfigured. You can't try to pour into music what you are not truly feeling.'
The voice was still speaking the last words in Lucy's head, when Dalila took a deep breath. She closed her eyes for a moment, looking for notes and tunes, words and...
"Memory/Turn your face to the moonlight/Let your memory lead you/Open up enter in..."
Dalila governed her voice, testing it, listening to those first few words. It was not bad, she felt it strong and firm in her throat. Just as she remembered.
And those few sounds she had played, as the music roared inside her, wanting to be freed in the open air, it was like a black veil had been torn from Dalila's eyes and heart, as she could finally see the light, a shining sun above her, leading her out of darkness and sorrow. Her body was no aching anymore, and as she gave her voice more strength, she felt it reviving and filling the voice inside her.
Dalila felt all of this in the blink of an eye, and she did the only thing she could, that was keeping singing, feeding her soul with that warmth and light music had lit up inside her.
"If you find there/The meaning of what happiness is/Then a new life will begin..."
Time was stopped in the infirmary. Lucy didn't believe her ears. Dalila had an angelic voice, like nothing she had heard before. Staring agape as the wind dragon slayer sung a song she had never heard before, a melody melancholic and longing, with such a passion that was giving her goose bumps all over her arms.
"Memory, all alone in the moonlight/I can smile at the old days/I was beautiful then"
I have never hear something so beautiful. Lucy felt her eyes watering. She is singing about her past right?
But then, the Celestial mage smile, for Dalila had looked back into her eyes with such a tenderness that her heart trembled, speaking words of sorrow, but with the voice of one that was ready to rise and live again.
"I remember the time I knew what happiness was," sung Dalila, with the sweetness of a celestial creature, "Let the memory live again..."
In the meantime, in the guild hall...
The duty for Wendy and Charle that morning was to sort the plants they had collected with Porlyusica a couple of days before. It was going to be a long and tiring task, and all under the attentive eyes of Porlyusica, who was the most exigent of teachers.
The old healer had taken upon herself the task to teach Wendy all she knew about plants and potions, because 'she should not always rely on her sky magic'. Charle had agreed to the purpose of Porlyusica. Had Wendy been short of magic power, she must know how to treat a patient, and she could have put that knowledge to good use, and saving magic energy.
The two friends had arrived at the guild early that morning and Kinana had just served them breakfast. The two started to eat immediately, decided to finish their job as soon as possible.
"I have heard Erza-san talking with Juvia and Evergreen about a new girl the Thunder Legion has found in the Blue Mountains!" was saying Wendy excitedly. "They said she is a dragon slayer too!"
"A dragon slayer?" Charle widened her eyes. "I also heard them talking but I didn't understand she was a dragon slayer! How is it possible?"
"She is a second generation dragon slayer, apparently! She is the wind dragon slayer!"
Wendy hand't stopped thinking about the news all night. She had heard Juvia and Erza talking with Evergreen in Erza's room - seemed like Lucy had talked with Erza the previous day at the guild, while Charle and her were in the woods with Porlyusica. Wendy had been so surprised, and curious to learn a little more about it, that she had been tempted to sneak out and join the older mages, but Charle was already sleeping and that next day was going to be a busy one, so she just stayed in bed, wandering of how the new dragon slayer was going to be.
Another dragon slayer! she had kept thinking. Finally, another girl! Well, Dalila - she understood that this was her name - was Erza's age, so she was going to be seven years older than Wendy, but Wendy was more than happy to have another bigger sister. She was blooming at the perspective, and hoped that Dalila was just as friendly as the other girls in the guild.
Maybe she has some healing powers like mine? she asked herself a thousand times, turning and rolling in the bedsheets. Or maybe she will have a different type of magic?
Evergreen and Erza had told Juvia that Master had wanted Lucy to talk with Dalila - she had been sleeping in a crystal for a century in an old, collapsed mine, and she just woke up, unaware of the time laps. So, Evergreen had explained, it was like she just woke up in a different world, and her old life was just gone.
That had reminded Wendy of the time she lost Cait Shelter. It was still painful for the young dragon slayer to recall that day. It was the day when she saw all the people she loved, her home and friends, vanish into thin air in front of her eyes. But then, it had been also the day when Erza asked her to join Fairy Tail. It had been the day when Wendy and Charle first walked into Fairy Tail guild hall. And Wendy had never been more thankful for a decision in her whole life.
Despite being curious to meet Dalila, they both knew that Master wanted her to see Lucy and Lucy alone for those first few days. "She will be shocked." was saying Charle, "And you should have not eavesdropped!"
"Ehm, I couldn't really help!" blushed Wendy. "I just heard it. The walls at Fairy Hills are too thin for me not to hear conversations."
The cat had huffed. "And she is not back on her feet yet!" Charle added, a few minutes later.
Wendy smirked. Charle was excited about the new dragon slayer just as her, and that continue talk about Dalila was a proof that, in her own way, also the Exceed was eager to meet Dalila and to welcome her at Fairy Tail. If she wants to stay! thought Wendy. She hoped so.
"Come on, Charle! In a couple of days we will be able to meet her." chimed Wendy, finishing her glass of milk and bringing it back to Kinana at the bar counter. "Come on now. Porlyusica will be waiting for us!"
The Exceed, walking next to her in the corridor towards the infirmary, looked thoughtful. "Yes, I hope so too." she said after a while. "The poor kid must fell confused and alone. I think- wait, Wendy, are you alright?"
Charle turned to look and the young girl, whose steps had slowly altered, and was now frozen a few meters from the door of the infirmary, staring at it as if a spell had been cast upon her.
"Wendy?" asked Charle again worriedly, her gaze going back and forth from the door to the sky dragon slayer. "Is everything ok?"
Wendy was half hearing the Exceed. Something had caught her attention as soon as they neared the door of the infirmary. A sweet, caressing voice singing a nostalgic song, that made Wendy's eyes prickle with tears.
"Midnight/Not a sound from the pavement..."
"Oh my wings!" whispered Charle, suddenly understanding what was going on. "Dalila in inside the infirmary right now!" They had thought only about busying themselves with dried leaves and flowers for the rest of the morning, without realising that Dalila would have been there with Porlyusica and Lucy. We should not be here! thought Charle panicking.
"Wendy!" she whispered. "We need to leave! We mustn't disturb them!"
Wendy simply nodded, without really listening.
"Has the moon lost her memory?/She is smiling alone"
The voice continued to sing, and the young dragon slayer, as if she was hypnotised, moved the few steps that separated her from the door, and place a hand on the doorknob.
"In the lamplight, the withered leaves collect at my feet,/And the wind begins to moan..."
"Wait! Wendy!" hissed Charle. "Maybe we shouldn't go in there..."
Too late.
The voice suddenly stopped, and Wendy heard two people - one was Lucy, and the other one the voice that she had heard singing so beautifully - exchanging a few words. Before she could back from the door, the doorknob was turned under her hand and the door was opened.
"Oh, Wendy! Charle!" said Lucy, with a big smile on her face. "Hello girls! How are you?"
Wendy blinked a few times, before gaining her focus again and answer Lucy. "I am sorry, Lucy-san!" she blushed, "Porlyusica had asked me and Charle... for the plants..."
"Sorry, Lucy! We didn't want to disturb you!" cut in Charle, glaring at Wendy, "Porlyusica had some work for us this morning. We didn't know you were here. But we can come back later, if you-Wendy! Do not peek!"
Charle had started scolding the young girl, but Wendy had already bent a little over, too curious to resist. Searching with her eyes the infirmary behind Lucy, Wendy was greeted by a pair of grey eyes, staring back at her with equal curiosity, framed with blonde, almost white, hair, falling in long locks over her shoulders.
The lips under the grey eyes stretched in a small, timid smile, and Wendy saw Dalila lifting a hand, waving at her. "Hello." she said softly.
Lucy turned, a little surprised. Was it ok for Dalila to see someone else? Was she feeling good enough to meet new people? Well, I guess for a few minutes... "No worries Charle!" Lucy put up her best genuine smile.
"We have some guests, Dalila." she said to the slayer behind her. "Maybe Wendy and Charle can stop for a minute?" she asked tentatively.
Dalila smiled. "Yes, definitively." The small, blue haired head she saw from behind the wooden door had piqued her curiosity. Wendy, she is the sky dragon slayer, if I am not wrong. The small, white cat scolding the youngling must be Charle, her Exceed. Yes, definitively this is Charle.
Dalila was excited to meet another dragon slayer. She had so many questions. She is also in Lucy's team, the famous 'team Natsu'!
And on top of all, Wendy was the second Fairy Tail mage she was meeting. It was exciting, in some ways. This was Mavis guild, after all.
Lucy let Wendy and Charle entering the room, and closed the door behind them. Thank the Polar Star, Natsu and the others have not decided to break in. Not yet, al least, thank you very much!
Wendy and Charle were a thing, but the rest of the guild was a totally different matter. Maybe I should ask Levy... She should also have some clothes of Dalila's size... thought Lucy, as she looked at Wendy and Dalila, studying each other.
Wendy had walked a few steps into the infirmary, and stopping halfway between Dalila and the door, waiting for the older mage to introduce her to the wind dragon slayer.
Dalila was sitting on the bed, a little flushed because of the singing, her long, white hair in a long braid falling on her chest. She looked weary, but her eyes were sparkling with life, and her skin was fair and smooth, glistening in the daylight.
"Ehm," the Celestial mage cleared her throat, feeling she had to perform the hosting duty. "So, Dalila, these are Wendy Marvel and Charle the Exceed, and they are dear friends of mine and part of my team! And girls, this is Dalila von Altzner, a new dragon slayer."
Charle moved a step closer to the bed. Her eyes softened considerably as she and Dalila looked at each other. She looks so lost... So similar to Wendy when she lost Grandine.
"Hello, Dalila." the Exceed said kindly. "How are you?"
Dalila breathed, taking in the smell that was emanating form the Exceed. She could tell Charle was smelling of fresh soap, clean clothes and milk, but put aside those considerations. It was still strange to her, this new way her nose was discerning the world around her. It had started last night when she had buried her head in the pillow, and almost choked with the smell of alcohol and disinfectant, and it had been getting worse and worse during the morning.
This is not the right moment to think about that. decided Dalila, smiling back. I can ask Wendy a few things, if she has some time...
"Nice to meet you, too." Dalila said politely. "I feel still a little tired, but I am good, thank you."
"I am glad to hear that. Porlyusica is a great healer, you will be on your feet in no time!" Charle smile grew a little, "Also Wendy is a healer, right Wendy? Wendy?"
"Uh?" Wendy woke up from her stupor. From the open window, the spring breeze gently blowing in the room, had brought to Wendy the soft scent of Dalila, and much to the young slayer surprise, she had felt... a candid blanket of snowfall, and tiny pink and blue flowers... the blows of the hurricane on a desert beach, and the soft morning breeze among the peak of the mountains...
Wow thought Wendy. She had never smell something so fresh and... If I closed my eyes, I would believe I was on the top of a mount, up in the clouds...
Charle's voice had woken up Wendy from those fantasies, and the youngling realised that all the three girls in the room where staring at her. Charle seemed to be ready to scold her again, apparently.
"I am... I am sorry!" stuttered the young slayer, blushing. "I mean... My pleasure to meet you, Dalila."
Just as when Lucy had come to her for the first time, warming her heart a little, Dalila felt her chest a little less heavy. With the brightest of smiles, she bowed slightly to the young girl. "It is nice to meet you as well, Wendy!"
At the very same moment, in the guild hall...
Master Makarov was sitting begrudgingly in front of a huge mug of beer Kinana had just delivered in front of him. The Master was fuming.
The day before, the news of a new dragon slayer, and the conditions in which she had been found, had spread among the guild members as a blazing fire carried by the wind. Lucy had talked to Erza the day before, in total innocence and believing the Requip mage was going to be discreet about Dalila. Erza, in total good faith, had talked with Kinana during lunch. Right after, the purple haired mage had confided herself with Levy. And then Levy had talked with Jet and Droy... Who had talked to Max... Who had talked to Cana... Who had talked with Wakaba and Macao, who talked with Romeo, who talked with Asuka when her parents had taken her to the guild for a couple fo hours for a small job they had to to in town, and then Asuka had gone to Master Makarov, all excited about a 'new dragon slayer who was in the infirmary'.
Without any other choice, seeing that the hope of giving Dalila a little privacy before she could be thrown into the craziness of Fairy Tail was a lost one, the little Master had broke the news to the whole guild.
"Listen here, brats!" had yelled the old little man, "I was going to announce it officially tomorrow, but you are so gossipy..." "That is not true old man!" yelled Cana from the back of the guild.
"... and so blabbermouth..." "Come on, Sixth!" groaned Macao from behind his mug of beer.
"... you are a bunch of old ladies..." "Hey, I am not old!" cried Romeo.
"... who do nothing but talk ..." "Hey Gramps!" "This is not true!" "I had talked only with one person!" "Me too!" "So did I!"
"Silence!"
The guild was silent. Makarov took a deep breath. "Now, as everyone knows by now, there is a new dragon slayer, but," he raised his voice, looking menacingly around him, "she is tired and needs to rest. She can't fight for now, and Porlyusica had expressively ordered her to lie in bed and not move. I am forbidding you to try to break in the infirmary, or there will be consequences!"
"Well, we have to wait only a few days, isn't it, Happy?" had said Natsu happily, before resuming his fight with Gray.
"Aye sir! And then, we will welcome her to Fairy Tail!" said the Exceed jumping happily, already taking for granted that Dalila was going to stay at the guild. Why shouldn't she, had thought the blue Exceed, since she was a dragon slayer and there were so many other dragon slayers at Fairy Tail?
However, there was a small problem. Natsu hated to wait.
The day before, when Lucy had talked to him and the rest of the team, he had been busying fighting with Gray and Max the whole day, and that had been a good distraction.
However, that morning it had been hard for the dragon slayer to restrain himself from sneaking into the infirmary. And when his control started to slip away, and his impatience to grow - Happy was not being much of help - it had become Makarov's duty to prevent him from breaking into the room and check the new dragon slayer.
"But what if she wants to fight!" had protested the fire dragon slayer.
"I hope she does not!" had grunted Master from the bar. "Otherwise we will have to rebuild the guild again! And do not think I forgot you destroy the fountain again, Natsu!"
"Which fontain-Ouh! Watch it, ice breath!" "The hell do you want, you flame brain?"
Makarov wished he could drown himself in his mug of beer. He knew for a fact that his children meant no harm, but Dalila needed her time to process the shock and readjusting with the idea of the new life that was awaiting her.
Having someone breathing fire onto her face, declaring his will to fight her... not the best way to begin her life as a mage, thought the short Master, taking another large gulp of ale.
To make his mood particularly bad, there was the fact that there were no news from Era. Mirajane had taken the first train that morning, and she was going to arrive to Era in the evening.
Makarov had talked to Lily a while ago. He and Gajeel were travelling back to Magnolia, much to their annoyance. 'We did our best, Master.' had told him Lily on the communication lacryma, "But Lahar won't hear a thing, Master."
The short Master had pointed out that maybe they should have waited for Mirajane, just in case - you never knew with Lahar - but Lily had replied that Mira could 'take down the whole corpse of Rune Knights and still had time and energy to go back to Fairy Tail and serve dinner to everyone, cheerfully and without a nail cracked.', to properly quote the Exceed.
Master knew Pantherlily was right. There was nothing else the pair could do in Era, apart maybe getting onto the Captains' nerves. Which is something we have to avoid at all cost... for now.
Makarov had been surprised to learn the part that Belno had in this parole-business. Freeing the rest of the Oracion Seis... An ambitious project, thought Makarov, taking another sip from his mug. He had to remind himself to call Yijima back in Hargeon. That was a news the former Councilman would appreciate. Yijima was not in the Council anymore, but... It was always good to be informed. And the man was a tomb, so there was no risk he would go around and spread the news.
I wonder why the Council, or even Belno, hadn't told me... Makarov shook his head. The reasons why Belno hand't just called him were not his main problem right now. Bringing Cobra back home was, and without further delay.
Cherry on top, the Thunder Legion had not showed up yet. Makarov had called Laxus, and the lighting dragon slayer was still drowsy and tired from his two days trip. "The others are pretty much the same." had told Makarov his grandson. "but I guess tomorrow we will be at the guild."
If only Laxus was right... Makarov grimaced, looking at a certain Seith mage who was drinking his third shot of vodka, engaged in a bet with Cana, as if a two days trip had been nothing to him. His wooden dolls were bothering the card mage, distracting her from the drinking contest by trying to take her bra off - not that Makarov was all that displeased - and Cana had to struggle to keep her clothes in place and at the same time don't go behind Bickslow with the shots.
"You can't undress me, you pervert! It's cheating!" she cried at a certain point, throwing an empty glass in the direction of Peppe, but hitting Gray instead.
Someone who does not care about dressing at all... thought Makarov, as Gray, discarding his boxer, went completely naked against Cana, trying to slam an ice mug onto her face.
"Suuure I am cheating, doll face! But maybe you are too drunk to do two things at a time?" Bickslow cackled.
Before the man had time to say 'babies', Cana was already at his throat.
Makarov sighed, looking at the fight that was taking place in front of him. Erza had not yet arrived, and as Mirajane was travelling, there was no one who could safely stopped them. \textit{He} could, but not before he had finished the third beer of the day.
He took another sip, looking as cards and ice splinter flew around him... then Makarov frowned. He stared at the brawl. Something is missing...
The Master narrowed his eyes. He looked at his right. Then at his left. Then at the ceiling. Wait... Where the hell has Natsu gone?
Meanwhile, on a train moving towards Era...
"Agent Lily, agent Lily. This is agent Strauss. Over."
"Agent Lily, I am listening to you, agent Strauss. What is your position? Copy."
From his seat on the wagon, Gajeel rolled his eyes. Why, on all the Exceeds, did he had to get the one with the passion for the military? Not that he complained - right now in particular, he was not in the position to complain. The train which was taking the iron dragon slayer and Pantherlily back to Magnolia was running among the hills, and the curves were making Gajeel even more sick than usual.
"Halfway to the target. The train is perfectly on time. I expect to be on place around 7pm. Over."
Lily smirked. "Great news, agent Strauss. Well done. We are also on our way back to the base. Over."
From the other side of the line, Mirajane giggled. She ignored the curious stares of the other passenger in the wagon and kept talking with a strong, formal voice. "Thank you agent Lily. I will notify the General as soon as I am safe at the outpost. Have you already called him? Over."
"General has been informed on our departure. We trust the mission to you, agent Strauss. We are in your hands. Over."
Mirajane's smile made the man sitting next to her shiver. "The mission will be accomplished with no further delay, agent Lily." then, as if nothing had been, her smile became bright again. "Is agent Redfox with you right now? Over."
She heard Lily chuckling. "Agent Redfox is right next to me. Not his usual-ouch!"
Mirajane heard some growling, familiar sounds, then a strangled whine, and then again Lily's voice. "As I was saying," resumed the Exceed slightly panting, "agent Redfox is copying good with his motion sickness. Enough to not to catch an Exceed holding a communication lacryma. Over."
"Good. Then I wish you a pleasant journey, agent Lily. Say hi to agent Redfox for me. Over."
"Lily, if ya say to that dem-glurg-arg..." she heard Gajeel gurgling, before Lily could snatch the lacryma away from him again. "Have a nice trip, Mira. Stay safe!"
"Goodbye guys!" Mirajane closed the communication, and let herself lean onto the cushions of the seat. Oh, Mirajane thought, she was safe indeed. Perfectly safe.
Do you know the song Dalila sung in the first part? It's 'Memory' from the musical Cats! Go and listen to it - it is really amazing ;)