Titania and The Hunter
Chapter 63: Welcome
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It was her natural internal clock that woke her up so early in the morning. She groggily opened her eyes as her conscious mind wrestled with the idea of either waking up or sleeping in just a little bit longer. Her instincts after years of helping around the guild told her to wake up, get ready, and start her early morning chores to get the day started.
Until she remembered that the guild wasn't around anymore.
Brown eyes peeled open to a curtain of dark blue hair that covered them. She moaned tiredly and huffed upward, blowing the strands of hair out of her eyes so she could see the natural light that filled her new room. She shifted her head on her pillow and felt a damp spot against her cheek.
Oh, right, she did have another episode late last night didn't she?
Hearing a soft moan below her chin she looked down to see Carla cozy up by her chest as she slept as well. She smiled warmly down at her feline best friend and placed a gentle kiss on the crown of her head before shifting out of bed. Placing Carla against the pillow and watching her friend slump against it, she looked around once more.
Her new room was a little larger than her old one, but it was much emptier. All of her worldly belongs fit inside a box she hadn't even unpacked yet and some clothes she had rotated through since arriving in this new town. If she didn't fill this place up properly then people might start thinking she lived a minimalist lifestyle or that she was a possible sage.
Or that she wasn't planning to stay.
She took a deep breath and stepped up to the window, pushing it open and looking out at her new view. Magnolia's beautiful early morning glory. The sun only just starting to rise and light up the sky but the town already bustling and alive. All the mountains and forests were in view of her line of sight this far out of the town and it was breathtaking.
With a deep inhale, Wendy smiled and nodded, "A new day."
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"Mornin' Wendy-chan!"
"Good morning!"
"Hey Newbie-chan, don't go running through the streets and slip, alright!"
"I promise I won't!"
"Hey kid, it's pretty early. Do you want some breakfast? I can put it on Fairy Tail's tab if you wanna splurge?"
"O-Oh no, that's fine! I'm not hungry right now!"
"You know you haven't eaten yet, right?" Carla said as she flew by her charge's side as they quickly made their way towards the guild. The white cat gently flapped her wings as she followed the young Dragon Slayer's light jog towards the building, "The last thing you had was a light dinner last night."
"Carla, I'm fine. Really. I just want to make sure I get to the guild on time."
"Is there a designated time we need to get there? If this last week has taught me anything it's that the people of this guild arrive when they feel like it and leave when they want to. Like a giant meeting ground for vagrants and vagabonds. And even when they are here they mostly spend their time drinking and being rowdy and honestly just menaces to society." Carla looked around quizzically, "And the community just accepts it. Wendy, we may have gotten ourselves into something way over our heads."
"Carla." Wendy rolled her eyes as they finally reached the last stretch and arrived at their destination. The guild hall was just as big and awe-inspiring as the first time she had seen it a week ago. However instead of the new recruit overwhelmed by the change, now she could enter without hesitation. She walked past the gate, greeting the few members eating outside, and walked through the front entrance, "Good morning every-"
"HAAAAA!"
Elfman's giant body went flying through the air, crashing into a table just by the entrance and startling the new recruits right beside it. The giant white-haired man pulled himself out of the wreckage and snarled, "NATSU, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
"Just wanted to make sure that I wasn't getting lazy after our last big job." The Dragon Slayer patted his arms a few times before nodding with a grin, "Yep, I'm still good."
"You won't be when I'm through with you!" The middle Strauss sibling pulled himself out and rushed at his comrade with a guttural roar. Natsu smirked and dropped his weight as he took Elfman's bull charge head-on. The shorter man was easily tackled off his feet but punched Elfman's back as they crashed into another table.
"Dammit you idiots!"
"We're trying to eat here!"
"It's your own fault for eating while we fight!"
"How does that make sense?!"
"Shut up!"
"Get over here!"
Wendy trembled in shock as the entire guild started to devolve into an early morning brawl. Magic was thrown around without worry or care as within seconds the peaceful guildhall was just as destructive and dangerous as the fight with the Oración Seis. Wendy wished she could say she had gotten used to it during her time here, but the chaos was still startling even now.
"Wendy!" Carla yelled by her side, swooping in and grabbing her back, "We need to make our way through!"
"R-Right!"
The young duo then started flying through the pandemonium between them and the counter on the other side. Carla flew forward and carried Wendy through a storm of tossed furniture, wild magic attacks, angry expletives, and one or two unfortunate souls who were grabbed and used as projectiles.
There was probably only enough space between the entrance and the counter to fly leisurely for several seconds, but it was the most tense few seconds of their lives as they made their way through.
Unfortunately just as they were about to reach their destination, Macao flew through the air with a terrified wail and nearly knocked into them. They barely dodged but Carla's wings had been knocked off course and they fell through the air in a moment of panic.
Only to be caught and lowered back to the ground safely. Wendy opened her eyes and looked up at the whiskered man who had retrieved them, "Naruto-San!"
"Still having a hard time making it through the brawls, huh?"
"It wouldn't be so mad if you madmen didn't fight at every drop of the hat!" Carla complained as he lowered them back to the ground. There they could safely breathe and not worry about sustaining injury. Because the counter was the one place in the whole guild floor that wasn't getting dragged into the fight.
It might have been because of the three S-Class Mages that were currently gathered there trying to enjoy their morning.
"I take it your guild didn't have fights like this?" Erza asked as Wendy and Carla joined them at the counter.
"The most anyone at Cait Shelter fought about were chore lists and dinner arrangements. And even then it was just a civil discussion and agreement that settled things in under 5 minutes!" Carla groused as she huffed and sat atop the countertop, "Although in hindsight it makes sense that they wouldn't really argue with each other considering they were basically the same person."
"Well we like to settle things with a little more energy here at Fairy Tail." Mirajane said with a smile, coincidentally at the same time that a fiery explosion and a riotous laugh from Natsu echoed out from the side, "And we always like to fight with a smile."
It was true that Wendy didn't see any real animosity or anger when she watched her new guildmates fight, but it was still so destructive that she couldn't help but worry. She gave a nervous smile, "Y-Yeah."
"Well we'll just let them hash things out." The barmaid said over the sound of a table being broken with someone's head, "Wendy, have you had anything to eat yet?"
"O-Oh, I haven't yet, but you don't need to worry-"
"No she needs to eat!" Carla said before Wendy could speak any further, "Please make her something to eat."
"I-I don't want to be a bother."
"You aren't." Mirajane gave her a beautiful smile and nodded, "Give me one sec and I'll make you some breakfast."
Wendy was still shocked that she now knew a celebrity like Mirajane. It was impossible for anyone in Fiore who read a Sorcerer's Weekly to not recognize the poster girl that graced the cover almost every issue. The white-haired Mage was just as gorgeous and breathtaking as the glamour photos suggested. And not only was she beautiful, but she was extremely kind and welcoming.
Back in Cait Shelter she silently judged the other members who leered at her photos and said she was a perfect woman. But now having met her she could see that they probably weren't too far off.
Although she wasn't an active Mage who regularly went out on job requests anymore so she might not have been able to handle the work of a 24-hour mission. So their guesses that she could probably go through the whole night and then some were quite inaccurate.
"So how are you two liking the place?" Naruto asked with a kind smile, leaning over the counter to get a better look of them from behind Erza's spot, "Any trouble finding your way around?"
"W-Well I still have a little trouble figuring out what directions I need to take after I leave the dorm." Wendy sheepishly admitted, "I have gotten lost about 2 or 3 times trying to navigate my way through everything."
"We had to resort to flying over the town for a bird's-eye view." Carla continued with a sigh, "They should have road markers and maps posted more frequently on the streets so people don't get lost."
Erza hummed and nodded her head, "I guess even though we're so familiar with it we can't expect newcomers to have the same luck in navigating everywhere." The kind redhead smiled down at them, "Well, how about later we go through a tour of Magnolia? I can show you around to some of the most popular restaurants and shops in town."
"Really?" Wendy perked up with glee, "I-I don't want to impose."
"Not at all. Consider it a duty of your senior guildmate to help you get acquainted with your new home."
Once again Wendy found herself humbled to be receiving their help and kindness like that. Almost everyone in the guild had been courteous and welcoming to them since they had arrived last week.
"Hrmmmm."
Almost everyone.
Wendy gulped and looked over to see a young girl seated between Naruto and Erza who was eyeing her down with a frown. The former Cait Mage waved meekly, "H-Hi, Koyuki-chan."
The young brunette girl seated between Fairy Tail's strongest couple just narrowed her eyes in response before turning her head away.
Naruto poked her cheek, "Koyuki, she said hello." The little Senju pouted and sulked even further before he poked deeper, "Young lady, now how did we teach you to greet people who've greeted you?"
Koyuki's frown deepened before she grumbled and nodded to the new blue-haired girl, "Good morning."
"Koyuki," Erza looked down at her little sister with a stern gaze, "Wendy is new to the guild and we were the ones who invited her, so we have to be the most welcoming while she gets acquainted with Magnolia. Now I don't know why you're acting like this but I don't want to see you doing it anymore, okay?"
"Mmmrmmmm." Koyuki just grumbled and turned away, making Erza frown in return. Wendy realized quite quickly that the young girl accompanying their side was their foster sister, Koyuki Senju, who they had told her about on the trip back to Magnolia. And it was clear that after their first meeting that the younger girl didn't like having her around.
Maybe because she expected her not to stay around for long?
"Hey!" Carla stood up on the counter and walked over, passing Wendy who tried to grab her before she could do anything. The white cat stood in front of Koyuki's spot and berated the young girl, "I won't just let you sit there and ignore Wendy like that. Now I don't know what your problem is but-"
Koyuki lurched upwards and grabbed Carla before squeezing her in a tight hug like she did Happy whenever she could grab a hold of him.
"Yappy Happy is a lot louder than regular Happy."
Naruto scoffed, "I know right?"
"Do not compare me to the male cat! And stop hugging me!"
"Koyuki, don't squeeze Carla just to avoid getting talked to." Mirajane said as she returned to the counter with a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and fresh toast that she placed in front of Wendy. As the young Senju pouted and finally released the furious white cat, the barmaid turned back to her, "And don't be annoyed at Wendy just because you think your brother and sister aren't paying attention to you."
"M-Mira-neechan!" The five-year old whined as her face went red. She noticed she got the attention of the others at the counter, most noticeably Naruto and Erza who were looking down at her with touched, sparkling eyes, "I-I thought when you finally got back from your mission that we could play together. B-But you seemed so busy now helping her around."
"Aww." Erza cooed and dragged Koyuki into a hug, rubbing her cheek into her little sister's chestnut hair with a pair of sparkling eyes, "I didn't know you were missing our attention this much."
"I always look forward to Onii-chan and Onee-chan returning home." Koyuki admitted, deflated and upset that she had bothered them with her worries, "I like staying with Mira-neechan or at Fairy Hills but I like it more when we're together. We eat lots of food and play games together. Even the house goes back to normal when you're home."
Wendy tilted her head in confusion and looked up to see the older members were just as confused by that statement, "The house goes back to normal?"
"Uh-huh!" Koyuki answered her, not showing any of the animosity or hesitation to talk to her she had a moment ago, "When they're gone the house is too quiet. But when they're home it's loud and fun and feels right. And when I go to bed I hear the house make noises and sounds like it's alive."
Wendy and Carla shared a confused look, "Your house makes noises? Is it haunted or something?"
Koyuki shook her head, "No, Onii-chan's scared of ghosts so he already made sure it wasn't haunted. But he told me that when the house moans and shakes and does stuff like that it's because it's happy and excited and it can't hold back anymore. And the house is always excited when they come back from a job."
"Wow! A magic house!" The world was filled with so many amazing and unbelievable things. Wendy looked up at her older guildmates with admiration, "Naruto-San, can we see your house when it does stuff like that?"
Naruto and Erza were hunched over, their eyes burning holes into the countertop with strained faces and blood rushing to their cheeks. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Mira was almost doubled over with heaving shoulders and her hand over her puffed out cheeks. A strained laugh slipped out between her fingers and tears pricked the sides of her eyes as she held it in.
She pulled her hand away and took a deep breath before giving her beautiful smile again, "Well you see girls-"
"Mira no!"
"Don't say a thing!"
"Hehe, I wasn't really going to tell them."
"We don't trust you with this matter at all!"
"Oh alright, alright." The white-haired woman stepped back from Naruto and Erza's challenging glare. She walked over to a different corner of the bar and giggled, "Well then I hope one day you two will be able to explain to them the miracle of the groaning, moaning, probably wet-sounding house."
"MIRA!"
"Last one I swear."
"Huh, what's going on over there?"
"Hey Mira-chan, you revealing their dirty secrets again?
There was something they weren't saying and Wendy wanted to be in on the joke but moved past it. It was probably a joke the older members shared in. Wendy turned back to her breakfast and started to partake in the meal. The eggs were delicious and the bacon was crunchy and the toast was divine. It was incredible that she could have a morning meal like this every day if she wanted!
But she didn't want to because it felt like she was taking advantage.
She heard a slight grunt to the side and saw Mirajane stack the plates into smaller piles for easier transport. Wendy saw a moment to act and ran around the counter to help, "Mirajane-San, let me help you care some of that."
Mira looked at her in surprise, "Oh that's kind of you but you really don't have to worry about me, Wendy. Just sit down and enjoy your breakfast."
"I-I will but let me at least help around when I can."
"Wendy," Carla called her name in that critical tone, "You really should finish eating first."
"It'll only take a second Carla."
"Well if you really want to help then I won't turn down the offer." She smiled pleasantly and picked up one of the stacks, "I wanted to get all these plates cleaned first before we offer them for dinner tonight. So can you help me get them into the kitchen sink?"
"Yes I can!" Wendy eagerly nodded and grabbed a stack before securing it against her chest, "I'll take them right-"
Her sandal caught on the corner and caused her to trip. The commotion across the guild paused when they heard a shrill scream followed by the breaking of a dozen plates. Mira grimaced as she fell, "Oh dear."
"O-Oh no!" Wendy panicked as she looked at the mess she had caused, "I-I'm sorry! I'll clean this up right away!"
"Wait Wendy!"
"Are you hurt?"
"It's okay really."
From the second floor several people watched their newest member stumble and clean up after her mess.
Levy flinched, "Oh, that looks like it could have gone better. Should we help her?"
Lucy scratched her neck, "It looks like she wants to clean up after herself. B-But we still should, right?" She asked her friends only to get shrugs and looks of uncertainty in return, "Why does she want to help around so much?"
"I think it's pretty cool." Gray said with a chuckle, "She's the newest arrival and she wants to make a good impression for herself. So she's going around helping wherever she can even if she stumbles a little along the way. But hey I think it's endearing." The half-naked man nodded, "Looks like our newest recruits are doing their best to help however they can."
"Um, Gray?"
Gray turned to Levy when she said his name with a hint of worry and saw Lucy staring the man down with a cold frown. He sweated, "Uh - hehe - n-not that there's anything wrong with the former new recruits or anything. Y-You know I didn't mean to make it sound like you were lazy or not pulling your weight around or anything, right?"
"My weight?"
"U-Uh, not that a lovely young lady like you weighs anything at all! L-Like what - 250? 200?"
They balked in response, "200?!"
"Less? Much less? Way less right? You know what I'm gonna stop talking now."
"Gray-sama," A head of blue-hair slid up to his side and nudged his arm, "Do you want to know how much Juvia weighs? Juvia promises it'll shock you how light she is!"
"I-I'd rather just continue to pull the foot out of my mouth thank you."
"T-Then should Juvia help around the guild as well! That's what you like in your newcomers, right?"
"I didn't mean it like that!"
As Gray's psyche started to break apart, Lucy shrugged towards Levy and the short girl giggled in response. She turned to the large man beside her, "Hey Gajeel, what do you think? Wendy is working pretty hard, don't you think?"
"Cat."
"Huh?"
"Cat. It's a cat. Why is it a cat?"
The Iron Dragon Slayer's murmuring drew the attention of the other Fairy Mages beside him as they turned to look at him oddly, "G-Gajeel?"
"Why?" The pierced Mage muttered to himself with shaky eyes, "Why does the newbie have a cat? Why are there two cats? Why do the other Dragon Slayers have cats? They both do! There are three Dragon Slayers in this guild but only two of them have cats! And why don't I have a cat?! I'm a better Dragon Slayer than Salamander and the newbie! I bet I'm better than the both of them combined! So why don't I have a cat?!"
The other Fairies stood to the side watching the former Phantom Mage have an emotional breakdown. He ground his teeth together that sounded eerily like metal scraping against metal and his fingers broke into the banister in his grip. Levy gulped and hesitantly reached out to touch his shoulder, "G-Gajeel?"
"I have to go!" The tall Dragon Slayer vaulted off the second floor, cracking the ground below and startling everyone before he dashed for the door, "I'M GONNA GET A CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTT!"
...
Makarov emerged a couple moments later, drying his hands on his shirt and fixing his belt up his waist. One he was done the short guild master looked up and saw all the broken furniture, busted plates, and crack in the floor that traveled from one side of the hall to the other.
The old Dreyar sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "I left for 10 minutes to take a shit! Can you kids seriously just not help yourselves or what?!"
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After a profuse amount of apologizing and trying to clean up, Wendy offered to help around in some other way.
Which ended up...
"Ah!" She squeaked as she accidentally knocked over a mug of beer as she was cleaning the tabletop, "I'm sorry!"
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Later when she offered to mop the floor until it was clean...
"Come on, let's go look at the bo-AHHHHHHH!"
Jet slipped on the wet floor as he ran by. And ended up pulling Droy down along the way. Who grabbed Levy's skirt and nearly pulled it off. Who screamed in response and fell back into Lisanna. Who tried to catch her but dropped back into Elfman's knees. Who tumbled over and flattened Gray and Natsu in the process. Who let out a fiery and icy groan of pain under his massive weight.
As everyone watched the dominoes fall one after another, Wendy started to pale in shock, "I-I'm sorry."
As a bonus she started building a reputation as the new girl who could knock anybody down. And any attempt to dispute that claim was followed with a quick reminder of the embarrassing sight.
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And then again she offered to help clean in the kitchen.
"Hey Mira, have you seen Wendy?" Naruto asked as he, Erza, and Koyuki returned from some shopping around the town, "We finished grabbing some stuff we needed and remembered that she wanted to have a tour of Magnolia."
"She's helping out in the kitchen." Mirajane said as she organized the bottles behind the counter, "I told her the dishes need cleaning and she offered to wash them in the sink."
Naruto and Erza shared a look of worry, "And when did she start working on that?"
"About an hour ago."
Their eyes widened, "Wendy's been back there, alone, for an hour?"
"Yes." Mira glumly nodded, "And before you ask; no, I'm too afraid to go see what happened."
Erza sighed and confidently strode past the counter and towards the kitchen, "Well it's cruel to leave her alone in there to do all that work. I'll go help and we can offer her the tour afterwards." Erza opened the door-
And was met with a compacted wall of soap bubbles.
"Oh good lord."
The bubbles rushed out and consumed Erza as Naruto, Koyuki, and Mira stood on top of the bar counter to avoid getting swept away. They watched as several figures slid by in the mix of water and soap before finally emerging. Erza had a giant afro of bubbles around her head while only Carla's face was visible in a giant ball of them.
Wendy popped up as well, a beard and mustache made from the suds before she shook her head, "I-I'm sorry."
"I don't even know how it happened." Carla spoke with a haunted expression, "We were cleaning and everything was fine and then the next second - poof! Bubbles everywhere! I-It was too much."
Makarov walked by whistling a jaunty tune. When he noticed his shoes splashing in water and deep through his soles, he looked down to the soapy mess that had been caused. The wizened old man sighed, "Today's just one of those days, isn't it?"
...
"Hey," Erza puffed up her bubble afro, "I don't hate this."
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Wendy grumbled sadly in anguish as she laid her head on the top of the table in defeat. The members of Fairy Titans joined their young friend around the table as she slumped into a miserable puddle before their eyes, "Uhhhhhhhhhhh."
"Are you okay Wendy?" Lucy asked, "It feels like you've been having a pretty hard day."
"I keep messing everything up." Wendy mumbled in disappointment, "I try to help but each time something goes wrong! I-I trip or I knock something over o-or - I don't even know what happened with cleaning the dishes!"
"I still say that sink was cursed or something!" Carla spoke up in her defense.
Gray looked at the sullen girl oddly, "Why are you trying to do so much anyway?" The young Dragon Slayer lifted her head and looked up at the Maker Mage as he asked, "I mean why did you go out of your way to try and help with all this stuff today? Stretching yourself thin like that was only gonna end badly."
"Yeah, you should have been hanging out with us." Natsu grinned at the younger girl, "We could have partied and ate food and you could have joined in our fight! I gotta get you back for knocking me and the others over like that so easily!"
"She didn't do that on purpose you moron!"
"Wendy," Erza spoke up and garnered their attention, "When we invited you here we didn't do it with the intent for you to just do chores and work. You're free to do those things if you wish to, but you can also do other things if you want." She looked back in the corner before looking back at the young girl, "Like a job?"
Wendy flinched and lowered her head, "I-I'm not sure if I'm ready to take a job yet. I took jobs while I was with the guild - m-my last guild," She quickly corrected and noticed that the others were giving her sympathetic looks after they noticed her do it, "But I don't know if I'm ready to handle a job well enough yet. I'm...I need to be better."
"Well I don't know about that but if you wanna train or something then I'm up for it!" Natsu said excitedly as he stood out of his seat and slammed his foot on the table, "I can help you train to get better if you want!"
Wendy perked up, "Really Natsu-San?"
"You bet! First lesson!" Natsu's hand blazed with fire, "Summon your flames to your hand! We're gonna be seeing how big we can make 'em!"
Everyone at the table stared at him in silence before Carla spoke up, "Wendy can't use fire, remember?"
"Oh." Natsu lowered his hand and stared ahead in thought before he shrugged, "Then just summon your sky to your hands or whatever. That's not the important part! We're gonna try and see how much you can gather in your hands to attack with!" He held up his hand and a giant inferno erupted from his fist, "The secret is to make it go boom and get super big!"
"Natsu! Don't you dare scorch the wood! I've had enough coming out here and seeing how you kids wreck shit today!"
As the older Dragon Slayer groaned and argued with Makarov, Naruto shook his head, "Yeah I don't think we should be relying on him for training tips."
Lucy chuckled nervously, "Uh, I'm not much of a fighter."
"I could help but I don't know if I'm much of a trainer." Gray offered afterwards.
"W-Well if there's no one-"
"Then allow me to guide you!" Erza exclaimed, her expression filled with expectation and glee as her eyes turned starry out of delight, "Wendy, I promise that under my supervision you shall achieve the strength you have sought! I will not fail in training! Natsu can confirm that I never gave up on teaching him mathematics and writing when he asked for my help!"
Everyone looked at the pink-haired Dragon Slayer in time to see him tremble in fear with a thousand-yard stare consuming his vision. He muttered to himself in a frightened, horrible tone that sounded more like a dying animal than a powerful Mage.
They all paled in worry as Erza continued unaware, "Now come along, if we start now-"
"A-Actually," Lucy quickly spoke up, a cold sweat running down her temple as she pulled Erza down from the table, "You know Erza, there might be someone who may be able to help Wendy even more than you. Someone who also uses air and wind to fight."
All eyes turned to the whiskered blond at their table. Naruto blinked once and then again before he sat up in surprise, "Me? Are you serious?"
"Well that makes the most sense to me."
"But I can't-"
"Naruto-San?" The older blond looked down at his side to see Wendy looking up at him with hope and anticipation. She asked quietly, "Can you help me?"
Naruto silently looked between the young new member and then to his girlfriend. He loved Erza. Loved her more than most anything in the world. But when it came to careful matters like this...
He nodded, "Yeah okay." Wendy smiled and thanked him as he stood up, "C'mon, let's head out. If we want to train we shouldn't do it here in town."
"Okay!" Wendy excitedly nodded and followed after him as they made their way out. Carla quickly followed behind with her wings spread as the rest of the team stayed behind. Erza hung her head in disappointment and slumped down in her seat. Lucy patted her firend's back sympathetically as they counted their blessings that they were able to preserve their young friend's safety.
...
"Erza, your bubble afro is slipping off."
"Great. As if this couldn't get any worse."
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"Okay. Alright so..." Naruto bounced on his feet and clapped his hands, smacking his lips and whistling as he walked in a set pattern in front of the patient girl and the less patient cat watching him. The whiskered man continued to stall and shake his head, "Training. Training. Where to start?"
"Where should we start, Naruto-San?"
"I...have no idea."
Carla sighed, "You're not exactly doing a great job of offering your services you know."
"Ease up, Grumpy Cat." Naruto groused back as the white cat frowned at him, "I didn't exactly have a plan for training or teaching anyone today. I just accepted because I wasn't ready to watch Erza drag you away and hollow out your soul."
"W-Would it have really been that bad?"
"I love Erza, but when she puts her mind to something she sees it through to the end. Even if the thing she's trying to accomplish can't totally keep up. Natsu and Gray are terrified of her not because she beat them in fights but because she was so strict and unwavering in their upbringing that it left a scar on their minds." Naruto shook his head defeatedly, "Treating things delicately is something she only started to learn after taking Koyuki came into our lives, but if it involves fighting...yeah, still risky."
"And you think you're better?" Carla genuinely asked.
"I have absolutely no idea." Naruto said bluntly, not inspiring much confidence in either of the new members. The S-Class Mage looked at Wendy, "I don't think there's much I can do to help you with your healing, right?"
"I-I don't think so."
"So it's just offensive moves you need help with?" Wendy nodded as Naruto let out a sigh of relief, "Okay, then I think I can do something to help with that." He smiled and stood confidently, "So what kind of attacks can you use right now?"
"Well right now I can use my roar to create a vortex from my mouth. I imagine it's pretty much the same as what Natsu-San does but with sky instead of fire."
"Which probably means it's super powerful." Naruto noted as Wendy blushed at his praise, "Anything else?"
"N-No." Wendy admitted, "Grandeeny wanted me to practice more in the healing aspect because she said it was a much more difficult technique to learn."
Naruto nodded, "She was right. People who can fight with their magic can be found pretty much anywhere but people with healing magic more advanced than first aid are a rarity." Wendy looked conflicted hearing him say that before he continued, "But that doesn't mean you can't fight at all. We just have to practice a little."
"R-Right!"
"Now since you're a Dragon Slayer, you specialize in the element your were taught and can eat it for sustenance. And unlike Natsu and Gajeel, you have access to your element during a fight more than they ever will. So we have to take advantage of that."
Wendy nodded and walked up to Naruto's side as he turned to the empty forest. This would be the perfect place for them to practice spells and techniques without causing any ruckus in the town. He had years of practicing attacks out here and with no one around they wouldn't be interrupted. As Wind started to gather around Naruto's hand, Wendy noticed something that had puzzled her since the Nirvana incident, "Naruto-San, why does your wind seem different from regular magic?"
"You noticed?"
"I can taste it. It's powerful but it doesn't have any magic in it."
"It doesn't?" Carla questioned, "How is that possible?"
"Because my element is formed from an energy inside of me instead of the magical power I have. Something called chakra." He explained to the young Mage as she watched in awe at the small, slow vortex of wind he formed in his palm, "It's a source of energy I have flowing through my body that I've been able to harness through training."
"T-That's amazing." Wendy muttered. She looked up at him with hope in her eyes, "Is there a way I could learn to use this power too?"
Unfortunately he had to watch her expression sink with disappointment as he shook his head, "Sorry but you probably won't be able to. You have to be born with this power in order to use it. And as far as I can tell only me, Koyuki, and her mother have it."
"Why is that?"
"Because we came from a different place originally." The younger duo just looked confused by what he was saying, "It would take a long time to explain. But it isn't all an advantage. If we run out of magic we have to wait for our tank to refill; but if we run out of chakra then..." Naruto cut at his throat and let his head go limp as Wendy paled at the thought, "So it's not all great. Although my chakra techniques have helped me learn a lot about controlling wind and air."
Naruto straightened his hand and swiped forward, launching a blade of Wind through the air and watching it slice through the base of a tree. The girls watched as the tree slid off its base and crashed into the ground. When he turned back it was to see Wendy gaping in amazement and Carla trying to not look impressed, "Our element is versatile and can be used in more ways than we can imagine. So don't worry Wendy...you'll be seeing improvement soon."
The young Dragon Slayer beamed with joy and nodded, "Right!"
########Hunter########
Wendy let out a soft, tired pant as she tried to catch her breath. In the process she gathered up some sustenance and partially refilled her draining reserves to fire off another attempt at an attack. Maybe this time she'd be able to match what Naruto had thrown out earlier.
The young Dragon Slayer concentrated as her Sky magic started to take form, materializing as a vortex of wind around her forearm that swirled wildly and uncontrollably. Wendy closed her eyes, focused, and tried to match the image of Naruto's attack. She raised her hands, let out a grunt of effort, and swiped down. She felt something leave her hands and fly outwards at the trees ahead of her.
Wendy opened her eyes and looked at the scars that lined the bark of the tree she had made. There were fresh scratches in the wood which meant she had projected her attack like she wished, but like the dozen she had launched before she had only deepened a set of scratches she had carved into the wood.
She hadn't match the power of Naruto's cut in order to cleave the tree apart.
It had been hours and she had many ideas of how to use her magic now. Naruto showed her it could cut. He showed her it could push. He showed her how it could cause the area around them to bend to their power.
And yet still she couldn't match that power yet. It had been hers to command for years...and still she hadn't tapped into its strength.
"Wow!" Naruto appeared at her side, startling the short girl as he admired her handiwork, "You can already project it out like that after only a few hours. I think it took me forever to even get that far when I was first training. That's amazing."
"Of course. Don't expect anything less of Wendy." Carla boasted on her behalf as she flew by her side. However the white feline noticed her oldest friend's complicated expression after being praised and looked concerned, "Wendy, is something wrong?"
"This isn't good. I've been trying over and over but I can't even match Naruto-San's proficiency or skill yet."
"Of course not child you've only been practicing for an afternoon."
"B-But I should have been doing this before." Wendy said desperately as she shook her head, "Even if Grandeeny didn't teach me many attack moves, why didn't I think I would need it?" The blue-haired girl muttered to herself despairingly, "I've barely trained at all or gotten any stronger since the day she left 7 years ago. And I can't let that be the case anymore."
Naruto looked at his young friend sadly before he lowered himself to a knee. He touched her shoulder and she looked down at him as he sat down on the ground. As he offered the space across from him, Wendy quietly nodded and sat down with her friend, "What is this about Wendy? Why did you want to get stronger before you decide to take a job? Some of the requests are barely any trouble even for someone with no magic."
"But there are some jobs that need more than that. That require people to be strong and capable of handling things by themselves. I have to be ready to take jobs like that if I need to." Wendy mumbled while lowering her head, "I need to be better."
"Why do you want to be better?"
"Because..." The young Mage shuffled uncomfortably before finally admitting, "I barely helped at all during the Nirvana incident. Everyone was fighting so desperately and putting everything on the line. But not me." Wendy's hands balled up in her lap as tears of frustration came down her cheeks, "I couldn't help at all during the fight, even though everyone was doing what they could to stop Nirvana and save Cait Shelter. And now that I'm in Fairy Tail..." She wiped away her tears and looked up at Naruto with an unwavering firmness in her eyes, "I can't let that happen again."
Naruto stared at Wendy for a moment as her gaze didn't waver or dissipate even after a few seconds. Instead he turned and looked at Carla, seeing the little cat wasn't surprised or shocked by what she said. So they must have talked about this before.
Honestly Naruto was proud of her. He had experience with Mages that had neglected to train or better themselves after learning whatever magic they specialized in. Once they were able to wield the mystical power in their hands many decided that that would be the end of their efforts. But he knew that you were never truly a master of anything because there was always more someone could do to train and hone their craft.
He admired that Wendy recognized that at such a young age. But he couldn't tolerate the self-deprecating way she said it.
"Wendy," His voice was stern and earned the young girl's attention as he spoke, "Tell me you don't think you were of no use during the mission against the Oración Seis."
Wendy shuffled in place and looked down and aside in shame, "I-I mean I wasn't of any help to all of you. I needed to be protected and rescued. I couldn't even help you in your fight with Brain."
"But you saved us countless times during that mission." He argued, "Any one of us could have fought those guys off, but who would have helped me and Natsu when we were sick? Who would have fixed our grievous injuries before they took their toll? Who would have saved Erza's life? We were all just watching her suffer without being able to do anything and you were able to save her. I'll never be able to explain how much that means to me."
Wendy's eyes narrowed slightly, "B-But I don't just want to stand around and fix you all when I could help."
"Of course you don't. And you won't forever." She looked up at him as he smiled and pointed aside, "Look at that." She turned and looked at the cuts she made against the tree, "You're already able to project and throw your attacks like that after only a few hours. By the time you're my age you'll wield the wind and sky in ways that will have the rest of us gawking in envy."
Wendy blushed slightly, "You...you think so?"
"And not only will you be able to fight; you're able to save and support others when they need help the most." Naruto leaned a little further down so he was level with her and grinned, "I swear one day you'll be the best of us."
She couldn't hold back the tears from his earnest words and lightly sniffled.
"But until then you don't need to rush. You don't need to push yourself or be disappointed that you aren't reaching where you'd like to be." He reached over and tapped her shoulder, touching the Fairy tattoo that now graced her arm, "You're a member of Fairy Tail now." He rolled up his sleeve and showed his tattoo as well, "You have me, Erza, everyone from the gang, and everyone else - we always have your back. From now on you if you ever need help, we'll be right there." He smirked, "Plus you'll always have Grumpus by your side."
"I don't appreciate all these nicknames you're giving me." Carla said with a frown, "But he is right Wendy. You don't need to rush yourself. You'll get there soon. Until then you have me, everyone, and even this unremarkable man to help you."
Wendy nodded, tears brimming in her eyes as she took a breath, "Thank you. Thank you both so much."
"Do you wanna keep practicing?"
Wendy rubbed her eyes and nodded.
"Do you wanna grab something to eat after we're done?"
She nodded again.
"Then we got a plan."
########Hunter########
"Wendy?"
The young Mage looked down at Carla at her side. The pair were sat atop her bed and while Carla looked at her, Wendy had been staring at the box of her belongings that still remained packed in the corner, "What is it Carla?"
"Do you want to unpack your stuff?"
"In a minute."
She had said that about 10 minutes ago, and she was still just sitting here.
Wendy wasn't sure what was making her procrastinate like this. After she had finished her training with Naruto and eaten dinner, she promised herself when she got back to the dorm that she would unpack. That she would finally make this room hers properly.
And still she hesitated.
A knock on the door drew her out of her inner thoughts. She got off the bed in a hurry and stepped over to pull the door open.
"Good evening." Erza greeted her when the door opened, the redhead dressed in her comfortable pink Heart Kreuz PJs, "Do you mind if we come in?"
Wendy was about to ask why she said we before she looked down and noticed Koyuki, also dressed for bed and subtly hiding behind Erza's legs. The young Senju carefully peeked out and looked up at Wendy before dipping behind her sister again. Wendy quickly stepped in, "O-Of course you can."
Erza walked in and Koyuki shyly followed, probably unsure how to act in a new resident's room. Carla walked up to the edge of the bed and looked up at Erza, "Are you not staying with your partner tonight?"
"No, I thought it would be nice to spend some time here instead." Erza said while looking around. She noticed how clean and empty the room is, "Wendy, is there a reason your room looks so barren?"
"Um," The young Dragon Slayer looked aside nervously and rubbed her arm, "I-I just haven't gotten around to doing it yet."
"Then would you like my help?"
Erza made her way over to the box and Wendy unconsciously reached out before she could touch it. But even though she didn't touch the box, it looked like the redhead got what she wanted in seeing her reaction. Erza sat down by her things and then patted the ground beside her for Wendy to sit down on.
She and Naruto really were alike.
As Wendy quietly sat down beside her, Erza just stared at the box of her things she left in corner, "Naruto told me about the conversation you had during your training. About wanting to be stronger and not wanting to burden others during our missions. I can understand the drive to be better and can respect that. But what about early today when you were frustrated that you couldn't help around the guild? Why do you keep all of your things still packed and your room empty?" She looked down at Wendy with concern in her eyes, "What's wrong?"
...
"I'm being cautious...in case this is another situation...where everything around me leaves. Or I'm told to go because I can't stay anymore."
Erza looked at her in surprise as Koyuki watched from the side and Carla stared at her friend sadly.
"I'm starting to realize...that I can never stay in one place. With anyone. For too long." Wendy drew her knees up to her chest and hid her face behind them as she muttered, "Grandeeny left. Jellal left. I was with Master and the others for so long I thought it was my home. But it was just a dream they made around me. A-And that disappeared too."
Every time she looked back now, she could only see the things that supported and kept her stable suddenly disappeared without warning. Her mother vanished from the world without any word why. The closest friend she had ever made after she was left alone dropped her off somewhere in the forest and never came back. And then the guild she had grown up in and found a new family with were just illusions she had to watch disappear around her.
She didn't want to feel that again. But on the chance she did...she didn't want it to hurt as badly. Like her chest had been emptied out and she was expected to keep breathing as if it was nothing.
"If I wasn't strong enough to help, I wanted to try and earn a place here helping around the guild instead." Wendy voice was soft, a clear sob and tone of disappointment in her words as they passed over the quiet room, "And when that didn't work out I needed Naruto-San's help to get stronger. I wanted to make sure I earned my place here. A-And I meant to unload my stuff. I meant to make this my room properly and live here. I don't want to assume the worst with the guild...but..."
Her shoulders trembled. Erza could hear the silent sobs the young Mage struggled to keep in. Her cheeks and knees were covered in tears as her hands gripped her circled arms tightly.
"I thought my last guild would be my only one. I was ready to grow old and even die with Cait Shelter's tattoo on my arm. But now...it's just gone. All the people I knew are gone. I know I should be happy that I was accepted into Fairy Tail, but I can't stop thinking about it." Wendy shook her head, "I-I cry every night thinking about it. I miss them. And I'm scared that it's gonna happen again."
Erza looked over at the bed and saw Carla sadly looking at her friend. When she noticed her gaze she nodded in affirmation to the redhead that what she said was true. She sat there silently and listened to the young Dragon Slayer silently weep to herself.
"It's going to feel like a long time before the crying stops and the pain starts to settle."
Wendy sniffled and rubbed her eyes before looking up at Erza. The redhead had a kind yet melancholic smile as she spoke, "Everyone who has our insignia loves being a part of Fairy Tail. But ask any one of them and they can tell you that they never planned on joining the guild in the first place."
Wendy looked up at Erza, her eyes puffy and red as she asked the older woman, "They didn't?"
"No." She smiled sadly and shook her head, "Their stories aren't mine to tell but each of us came here because we lost what we had or had nowhere else to go. Gray's isolation. Levy's anguish. The Strauss' reluctance. Each of us came here from losing one thing or another. Even I only came here because in the Tower all I ever heard of the outside world were stories of a beautiful guild filled with fun and adventure." She turned to Wendy, "And even after I came here I can't count how many days I spent crying into my pillow wishing how things could have changed."
Wendy rubbed her eyes clear, "Even - even you, Erza-San?"
"Of course, because even though I had been looking forward to finally coming to Fairy Tail, I came here alone and didn't know what to do." The two sat in silence for a moment before Erza smiled warmly and leaned into Wendy's side, "All those people you see smiling and cheering and fighting in the guild? They've experienced all of this too. Maybe not exactly what you're feeling right now, but they have loved and lost and come here to find what they were missing."
Erza touched her tattoo and looked down at Wendy's as well, "Naruto told you that as long as you have our mark we will not let you carry any burden alone. Well that doesn't just apply to our jobs. You're a part of our family now." She wrapped one arm around the younger girl's shoulders and pulled her in, "And I promise that as long as this mark exists anywhere in the world, Fairy Tail will not leave you alone."
Wendy's eyes welled up again before she buried her face into Erza's side and hugged her back. The redhead gently embraced the Dragon Slayer as she wept and cried into her PJs. The whole time Erza whispered that it would be okay, gently stroking her hair and rubbing her back.
Carla watched from the bed with a tear in her eyes.
Koyuki looked down at the floor with a tinge of guilt.
Once a few minutes had passed Wendy had finally started to quiet down. Her sobs no longer wracked her whole body and she was able to take a calming breath in Erza's embrace. She finally pulled back from the S-Class Mage's hug, her eyes puffy and nose runny after letting her emotions out properly for someone else to see.
Wendy stared at her box of belongings before opening it up and looking inside. There wasn't a lot inside of it right now...but that would change after some time.
She looked to Erza, "Can you...help me unpack, please?"
Erza smiled and nodded, "Happily."
The great Titania reached in and picked out some of her clothes before making her way to the closet. Carla flew by, gently hugging her arm before going to the box and grabbing some items herself. Wendy gave a tentative smile as she watched them decorate her new, hopefully permanent room.
She heard someone walk up next to her and turned to see Koyuki. The young Senju looked remorseful before she whispered, "My mommy leaves for her job and sometimes I don't see her for awhile. It always makes me sad when she leaves. Sometimes enough that I wanna cry." She shyly admitted, "But she always comes back. And I'm happy when she does."
Koyuki walked in and hugged Wendy's side, "Your mommy will come back someday too."
After all these years Wendy felt like she should have doubted that thought. That there was a chance she'd never see Grandeeny again. But somewhere deep in her chest she still felt it...
The hope that she'd see her mother again.
########Hunter########
"Look, it's very important that we find anyone who might have this symbol on them." She repeated while holding up the artist's rendering of a heart made of thorns, "If they have this mark then they belong to an extremely dangerous Dark Guild."
"Ma'am, I told you I didn't see anything else. Just a couple of people walking down the street with that mark on them. That's it. I'm sorry but after that I don't know what else to tell you."
Mahiro lowered the picture and sighed. When the Rune Knights had received reports that people sporting the insignia of Grimoire Heart had been spotted walking through the streets of Hargeon, she had been scrambled with a recon team in order to try and gather information.
Which was the fancy way of saying that they had been unleashed on the harbor town and expected to ask every single person they came across where they noticed a specific design on the clothes of people they may have passed who knows how long ago.
"Uggghhhh." The blonde Senju palmed her face and dragged it down before shaking her head, "I seriously don't miss the menial work of the job. I might need to take another vacation again."
"Captain!" One of her Knights came running up and stopped just beside her before saluting her, "I have to tell you something!"
She turned to him, "What is it? Any news on Grimoire Heart?"
"N-No, not yet Captain. But this doesn't have anything to do with the job."
"Well what is it?"
"Well we got word that a Mage was traveling through here and was seriously injured when he arrived. He was barely able to stay conscious but passed out while he was walking through the street and was brought to the hospital for treatment."
Mahiro raised her brow, "Okay? Why are you telling me this?"
"W-Well ma'am...he's from Fairy Tail."
########Hunter########
He felt sluggish and tired when he started to wake up again. The room was dark, the night draining most of the light out of the room and leaving him in the shadows. Each move was heavy and a strain on his body he was not comfortable or proud with. He reached out to activate the light Lacrima-
But stopped when he realized he was reaching out with nothing.
"I'll get it."
The light turned on and his eyes closed at the brightness that threatened to scorch them. After a moment to readjust he got used to the light and slowly started to open them. Once he did he looked at his bedside to see the woman in uniform seated by his side.
Mahiro shook her head, "You look like shit."
Gildarts gave a sly grin, "You look hot as ever."
"I guess even coming back with some assembly acquired doesn't slow you down, huh?"
"You know me," The scraggly S-Class man chuckled, "I just keep going and going and going."
Mahiro scoffed through her nose and shook her head with a giggle, "Never thought I'd see you again after all these years like this."
"You miss me?"
"Like a sickness."
Gildarts tried to sit up but Mahiro quickly stopped him, putting a hand to his chest before he could lift himself up. She silently shook her head and he relented as he laid back down. The strongest man in Fairy Tail sighed, "Is it that bad?"
"You'll live. And you'll probably get used to it considering how tough you are." The Senju woman shook her head, "But it was bad. If it was anyone other than you I'm sure they would have died a long time ago."
Gildarts' eyes watered and Mahiro looked at him in shock as he blubbered, "M-Mahiro, please, I need you to tell me."
She sat up in concern, "What is it?"
"Do I still got my meat?" Her worry vanished in an instant as his crocodile tears dried up, "My wonderful, glorious meat?"
"I can punch you down there and you can tell me if you feel anything?"
"I'm not really up for the punch but if you wanna use your hand I'm more than up for it."
Mahiro let out a long sigh and slumped back in her chair. The two Fairy Mages sat in silence for a moment before the blonde woman looked down at her bedridden friend, "I never thought I'd see the day when you were stuck in a bed. Don't." She snapped as he opened his mouth, "I know that was a good set up but I'm worried about you, jackass."
"Hey, I'm still alive." Gildarts pointed out flippantly, "Just a little worse for wear."
"Not just a little. What happened?"
"Got my ass handed to me." The S-Class Mage said, a hint of vitriol and disappointment in his voice as he spoke, "Doing so well too. I think I was close to clearing that 100-year quest before it happened."
"And what was it exactly?"
"A dragon showed up and ripped me apart." Mahiro's eyes widened in shock but he shook his head, "I don't think it was Natsu's. He was always talking about how Igneel was big and red and kind. But this thing was blacker than night...and was definitely an enemy to people."
He ran into a dragon? And lived? Mahiro looked at the injured man in disbelief, "How the hell did you end up on the bad side of a dragon?"
"No idea. It just showed up and got in my way. I tried to fight it but," Gildarts scoffed, "It was ridiculous Mahiro. I get why there was a whole brand of magic made to try and fight the damn things. Because it's impossible otherwise." He laid there silently while shaking his head, "Three years...gone in a flash."
"I'm sorry."
"Hell it ain't your fault." The S-Class Mage changed his dour expression to a grin as he looked at Mahiro, "How's the guild? Anything change while I was gone?"
"A few new members. The guild was destroyed and rebuilt. A bunch of crazy shit happened." Mahiro's expression soured, "And Laxus was excommunicated."
"Laxus?!" Gildarts asked in shock, "What happened?"
"I can't even get into it without seething in anger." She growled and tapped her foot in irritation, "You should probably ask everyone when you get back to the guild."
"Oh shit, that's right. I have to go back to the guild."
"Well duh. They weren't just going to keep you here in the hospital forever."
"Yeah, but I keep forgetting that I need to get back." The orange-haired man sighed, "Three years handling a job by yourself and you forget about how you usually handle things. Oh man...they're gonna be so disappointed that I failed the job."
"I think they'll just be happy to see you again."
"Yeah but they looked up to me. I ain't got much but when I used to walk through those doors the kids would look to me with excitement and wonder. Asking about what crazy job I just finished or what kind of monster I beat. And now after all this time I get to come back and tell 'em I blew it." The older man blew an exhausted raspberry, "It just sucks."
"This might be an opportunity for you to think about and decide how you want to handle things from now on."
"Hey I'm not just going to retire like that."
"I'm not saying you should retire." Mahiro said with some levity, "But maybe consider that this should be a wake-up call to start taking things a little slower? Maybe not leave so much? I'm sure you're still the strongest guy in the guild, but you gotta admit that missing an arm, a leg, and organs I can't even pronounce is probably gonna deter you a little."
"Well when you say it like that I feel stupid."
"You still got a few good years in you." She ignored his indignant growling at the use of few, "Maybe you can still try and settle down when you aren't taking jobs? Can't be the worst idea in the world."
"I tried that already."
"Gildarts, I'm not talking about dragging some ditzy girl to bed."
"No I mean it. I tried to do what you said once a long time ago." Gildarts laid back in his bed and stared up at the ceiling, "I tried to take it easy. Tried to settle down. I even got married."
"You?" Mahiro looked stunned, "You were married?"
"Yeah. A beautiful girl named Cornelia tied me down and made me say the vows." His memories drifted back to a lovely woman with chocolate-colored hair who smiled at him and pulled him along, "I thought I was ready to settle down and have all those things you talked about."
"What happened?"
"The same thing that's gonna stop me from ever retiring. I can't quell the love of adventure. Traveling the world. Seeing the sights. Beating monsters. Just can't help myself." Gildarts smiled wistfully, "I didn't want to burden her with an unreliable man like me so we got divorced. I always regretted that I couldn't fix things with her before she passed."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"You couldn't have. I never really told anyone. But if I can't settle down with the woman I loved...what makes you think injuries like these could stop me?"
"Heh, guess it was pretty silly to expect you to stop and smell the roses." He laughed which caused him to cough before he had to settle down. Mahiro watched him lie back and close his eyes as he tried to catch some rest. The Senju stared out the window as her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
"And you?"
She sat up, "Hmm?"
"Any regrets? Anything you wanna fix and make right?" Gildarts lifted his stump arm and let it poke up under his blanket, "If this is any indication then things can go south at the drop of a hat."
"I wanna spend more time with Koyuki and the others. And hopefully once I can clear up some of these bastards from the Balam Alliance I can finally quit and go back to the guild."
"And would you like to settle down with someone?"
She looked up into his coy smile and scoffed. The Senju leaned back and looked down at her lap, "Kinda similar to your situation I guess. But instead of never reaching out before it was too late...I pretty much burned the bridge so we'd never meet again."
Gildarts turned, "I'm expecting a story here."
She rolled her eyes but continued, "Growing up I didn't really have much in the way of structure or sound support. Ojii-sama was always troubled by his regrets and mother...she was so distraught at never getting home or seeing her other children again that it destroyed her. Even when she wound up having me I don't think it was for much more than replacing what she had left behind." Gildarts didn't let that opinion show pity in his expression and she appreciated that, "One day she just kinda gave up and passed. I don't think she was trying to go on anymore and when I told Ojii-sama he was so devastated that I was worried it'd happen again. So before it did I decided to leave."
"I met a guy while I was traveling. Passionate. Intense. Strong. Might even give you a challenge." She offered with a chuckle, "He's the one who taught me my Light magic, but he was always better at it. He wasn't a noble man. I don't even know if I can say he was a good man. But I really liked him, and for a long time I stayed with him."
"What happened?"
"I got pregnant. And when he found out he was so happy I was relieved that maybe we could start a family together. Time passed. The day came. I had Koyuki. I felt happy. And he...he was ecstatic." Mahiro's eyes lowered, "I don't know why but he was obsessed with having a family of his own. He said he would treat her like a princess. He would protect her. Make her the best and strongest in the world."
"This...sounds weird."
"It was. He wanted her to himself. Even when I was breastfeeding or helping her sleep he was there watching and making sure I did it right. And when she cried he was angry that I might have done something to upset her. Then one day he saw me carrying her around and something just snapped in his head. He thought I was stealing her. Or that I was going to hurt her. He attacked...even when I still had our daughter in my arms."
"It sounds like your guy had a few screws loose."
"Yeah that became pretty clear along the way. When he came at me and I heard Koyuki cry in my arms something clicked and I struck first. Took part of his face off as a result. He ran to try and fix it and while he was gone I ran. Found Ojii-sama's hideout and kept hidden in there until I thought it would be safe for us to leave." Mahiro sighed and rubbed her forehead, "I never saw him again. I looked and searched and even used my connection as a Rune Knight to try and find him. He was gone."
"He just vanished?"
"Nowhere on Fiore. I pushed Koyuki's father away - for good reason - but she doesn't have a father anymore. And I know one day she's going to ask me who he was and where he is and I have no idea how I'm going to tell her." Mahiro groaned, "So yeah...a few regrets."
"Is meeting him one of them?"
"Nope. Because I got the greatest gift in my entire life from him and I treasure it to this day." She looked down and smiled, remembering the day she came across a little blond and redhead in their secret place that invited them to their guild, "I actually have quite a few things I treasure now just as much as her."
"Same. I wish I could have settled things properly with a Cornelia...but I don't regret making the choice that I did. I love the guild and I want to be with it forever."
"We have one hell of a family, don't we?"
"That we do."
"I still have a bit to handle before I can head home again." She leaned forward and held his shoulder, "You?"
Gildarts looked up at the ceiling and sighed. He hated failing and disappointing the guild. But the idea of going home again...
Natsu barking and challenging him.
Erza and Mira arguing with each other.
Naruto trying to become the most reliable man he could be.
Makarov sitting around and basking in the joy of the family he had gathered..
"Yeah," The S-Class Mage smiled, "I think it's time I head home."
########Hunter########
Done
Man, been a while since we had a new part, huh? Looking forward to what this one has to offer!
So to start off we have our newest recruit getting used to her new home. And she's having some difficulties. Poor Wendy. If she looks back on her time before coming to Fairy Tail she was faced with a lot of heartbreak and sadness for a girl her age. Luckily she has some great people around her.
And a little catching up with Mahiro and Gildarts. I'm actually really glad I had an opportunity to put these two in a room together. Because besides Makarov I don't think there's anyone in the guild Gildarts could talk to without treating them like a kid he has to keep the act up for.
I'm thinking maybe one little fun chapter after this and then the fun begins!
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Thank You and Bye