Overcoming Destiny

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Wireless communications"

Ch 20

It had been a few days since Louise's talk with Thinker and it was her day to visit Freelia. Alicia Rue had finally gotten around to telling her about an herbalist that was currently working within the Catsy capital that was apparently good enough that the original residents of the country were making their way through the streets of Freelia to make use of her cures. She opened the door to the little shop that was, frankly, a little off the beaten path hearing a bell ringing somewhere in the shop.

"I'll be right there!" A voice called from the back.

"She doesn't sound that old." Louise said to herself as she stopped in front of the counter.

"How may I help you?" A short Catsy with olive-drab hair asked as she looked up at the Mauve. "Wait a moment." She went into the back room and returned, carrying a stool. "There, now what did you want?"

"You're Natsumi the herbalist that started working here in the last two and a half months?" Louise asked taking in the young looking Catsy.

"Yep, that's me. Natsumi, the cute and adorable Catsy herbalist." Natsumi said twirling before falling off the stool. "Eek!" Natsumi cried.

"You ok back there?" Louise asked as she leaned over the counter.

"Yep, totally-owwie!" She said jumping up hitting Louise. "That hurt! What is your head made of?!" She held her head rocking back and forth.

Louise didn't answer as she groaned from the surprise contact lying on the counter. "Calm down, that would insure that we have a better chance of surviving this encounter."

"By the way, who are you?" Natsumi said rubbing her head as she stood up.

"You know who I am instinctively." Louise answered as she stood up from the counter.

"Are you sure? Cause I thought Titania was supposed to be taller, and I don't know, more regal?" Natsumi said cocking her head.

"I'm can't help it that I'm shorter than people are expecting." Louise stated sighing. "But then the same could be said for yourself." Her eyes snapped open as the last thing she was told registered. "Ok that's it!" She growled as she vaulted over the counter, the shop shaking when she landed, her eyes literally glowing with power.

"Ok, that's more like it! That's more the presence of Titania, still shorter than expected but who am I to talk." Natsumi said clasping her hands beside her face.

Louise sighed as she calmed down after seeing that she wasn't really affecting the younger looking woman. "How did you get here? Because I know you aren't an altered native. I know for darn sure that you weren't on the server during the transition."

"Oh that, I'm looking for my useless husband, have you seen him?" She asked playing her cutesy act for all it was worth.

"A name would be nice, seeing as descriptions are useless since the transition." Louise answered quirking an eyebrow. "Like his screen name for instance."

"I'm looking for the useless NEET extraordinaire, Kisuke Sarutobi." She said pointing her pointer finger toward the door. "Oh, he's also known as George."

"Um I know a George." Louise stated in confusion. "But I would hesitate mightily to describe him as useless."

"Of course he's useless. He just sits there in front of the computer all day! Completely ignoring his poor wife who is forced to support his habit, Oh woe is me!" Natsumi looked downcast.

"Computer?" Louise asked holding a finger to her chin as she cocked her head to the side.

"What! You're Titania-" Natsumi was about to explode when the bell over the door rang signaling the arrival of a customer. Natsumi turned and faced the front. "Hello, and welcome to 'Natsumi's Herbs for Every Occasion!'" Natsumi said cheerfully.

"Are you watching the store for your parents?" The male fairy asked looking down at Natsumi.

"Um sir she is the owner." The Mauve stated pointing at the shorter woman.

"Oh, Titania, I didn't realize you were here. Are you helping with the shop?" He asked taking note of her position behind the counter.

"No I just had a question for her, seeing as she's a healer and we need all of the healers that we can get, as it takes a special mindset to be a healer." Louise answered.

"I see, then I won't take up your time. I just needed a few herbs." He said, pulling out a list.

OOooOO

"I'm alive!" Isabella exclaimed raising her hands in jubilation.

"Don't forget our bet." a Sylph with dark green hair and a olive-drab robe sing-songed

Upon hearing that, she sunk into depression, "How could I loose, and to a lowly commoner at that!"

"I'm looking forward to our date, Isabella-chan." Xellos stated with a coy smile.

"Shut up! I have never lost, hence I did not lose!" Isabella cried standing up.

"And now she's in denial. Such a shame and here I was going to take her to get ice-cream." Xellos said shaking his head.

"Ice-cream?" Isabella asked puzzled.

"Oh, Xellos, who is the lovely lady with you today?" Matilda asked as she landed behind the pair. "The most recent trollop to turn you down perhaps?"

"Who are you calling a trollop, you old hag!" Isabella cried out in indignation.

"Now, now children shouldn't try and anger those above them in the world's pecking order." Matilda stated with a malicious glint in her eyes. "Besides the little one here doesn't need to be stressed out by one such as yourself."

"Oh and what do you mean by that?" Isabella asked with a glint in her eyes.

"Because you wouldn't wish to start an international incident would you Isabella de Gallia?" Matilda asked.

"How did you know?!" Isabella asked taken aback.

"I'm assuming you first went to the Tristain magic academy where you were told that Tabitha moved here and you were given a lift by this moron to get up here. And you look similar to your cousin." Matilda answered before cocking her head and asking. "Did I leave anything out?"

"Speaking of my favorite cousin, where have you hidden her?" Isabella asked angrily as a shadow passed over them.

"That would be them now." Matilda answered looking up at the five dragons.

"Really! Where?!" Isabella asked looking up as well.

"The dragons." Matilda answered in a deadpan tone. "I need to be going." She said as she flew off towards the center of the city.

"Servant! Take me over there!" Isabella cried out as she pointed to where the dragons were landing.

"I'm not your servant." Xellos replied as he picked her up and flew over.

OOooOO

"Feel better now?" The black dragon asked his red, pink and two blue companions as he started slowly shrinking.

"Of coursh." The pink dragon answered with a noticeable lisp.

"Well hopefully this won't be a problem for too much longer Liz." Kirito stated as he looked at the pink dragon.

"Don't worry about us we'll regain our magic whenever it happens." The red dragon said.

"I thought Rhyme Dragons were all extinct! How did you find them?" Isabella asked looking up at Xellos.

"We aren't Rhyme dragons!" Kirito yelled at her as Klein and Liz covered their heads in resignation.

"Yeah. What he said." Xellos said putting her down.

"They're not? Then what are they?" Isabella asked perplexed.

"That." Xellos touched his finger to his lips. "Is a secret."

"Eh?" Isabella looked lost.

"National secret that will not be divulged to anybody except those that the holder of the ability choose to." Kirito answered.

"Oh, that makes sense. Wait. There's something wrong here." Isabella said looking around.

"And what's that?" Kirito asked quirking an eyebrow.

"How do you do that? You must tell me. Now!" Isabella grabbed Kirito by the collar as she demanded looking at his eyebrow.

"Tell you what?" Kirito ground out as he pried her hands off holding the struggling teen away from himself.

"You know, you're quite strong, wait. Where's my cousin?" Isabella asked looking around. "She's supposed to help me in situations like this."

All movement stopped as a rumbling growl was heard from the larger of the two blue dragons as Liz and Klein moved away to keep an eye on the action.

"Ack!" Isabella cried leaping to hide behind Xellos. "Save me from the evil dragons."

"Eh?" Xellos gave a rare blank look.

"Tabitha, she can't do anything to you, so please don't start anything." Kirito ordered his daughter-in-law.

"Wait, Tabitha? Charlotte? Is that you? Oh what did the evil dragon do to you? I knew it was a bad idea for Daddy to send you off to Tristain. Here they are sacrificing royalty to evil dragons." Isabella cried plaintively.

"Quit your bellyaching, it's unseemly. And for your information I chose this." Tabitha said with a glare hot enough to melt stone.

"Ack!" Isabella retreated behind Xellos again.

"You don't honestly expect me to be able to protect you from an angry dragon, do you?" Xellos asked looking back at her.

"Of course not! I say we make a tactical retreat and regroup." Isabella exclaimed.

"Regroup?! With what?! I have no part in this!" Xellos squeaked out stepping away.

"Wait! Get back here!" Isabella cried trying to keep Xellos between her and Tabitha.

"Calm down Isabella it's not like you can do anything to me anymore." Tabitha said as she laid down keeping an eye on her cousin as the remaining occupants watched with anticipation as the drama got deeper.

"Wait." Isabella stopped. "Are you telling me that the evil black dragon isn't mind washing you?"

"Why would I want to do anything but protect my daughter-in-law?" Kirito asked quirking an eyebrow.

"How are you doing that?!" Isabella asked pointing at him accusingly.

"If you're asking what I think you're asking. You can either do it or not." Kirito answered with a shrug.

After growling and grumbling she looked up in surprise. "Daughter-in-law?"

"Uh yeah." Kirito said slowly.

"When did this happen? You don't look old enough to have a child." Isabella asked.

"Your peoples summon servant spell summoned my son from the future and I'll have you know I have a five year old daughter." Kirito said before a deep gravely laugh came from the pink dragon. "You aren't helping Liz."

"So, ready to go?" Xellos asked the shell-shocked Isabella. Isabella nodded.

"Nice meeting you Isabella-chan." Kirito said flippantly before going dragon causing all of the elements he controlled to swirl around him in a flash of light as he grew into his dragon form before taking off, the other four close behind.

"What are you waiting for? We have a date to be on right?" Isabella asked.

"But of course." Xellos said as he picked her up and flew down to Arun.

OOooOO

Omake:

Lucy groaned as she came to from her seemingly forced bout of unconsciousness. "What happened?"

"Everyone but Erza agreed to go to assist the world of the Fae." Levy answered as she sat up clutching her head, feeling her new ears she shrieked in fright.

"Well what do you know." Wendy stated as she sat up looking over her shoulder. "At least one race of Fae has a tail."

"So that means that we are now Fairies." Natsu surmised.

"Looks like." Lucy added.

"Can somebody explain why we're children again?" Elfman asked looking himself over before whining. "I can't show off my manliness like this."

"Be quiet Elfman." Mirajane ordered her brother.

"Yes ma'am." The bigger boy cringed back from his older sister.

"Erza's decided not to come with us. Huh?" Grey observed.

"Juvia just glad that she can stay with her Grey!" Juvia cried out as she latched onto Grey.

"Need. Alcohol." Cana said as she held a held up a hand begging.

"You're a kid again." Gajeel stated. "Since your father didn't try and curb it your last life. This time Levy and myself will keep an eye on you."

"Me and you?" Levy asked unsure.

"Why yes, my cute wife." Gajeel said with a wide smile.

"I'm hungry." Natsu complained.

"Is food all you think about, flame-brain?" Grey growled.

"Well, actually, I'm a little hungry as well." Wendy added.

"So we need to find food then, so any ideas?" Lucy asked turning to Natsu. "Aaah!"

Natsu lay passed out on the ground.

OOooOOooOO