Hasn't Morgana promised you a new chapter soon? Hasn't she? And here you go, lovelies!

So, Cobra and Dalila have met, romantically crashing into each other thanks to the 'wave of love' of Juvia ('wave of love'... Coincidence? I don't think so...)

But they don't seem to like each other so much, right? Mmmh, let's see what happens in this chapter. Maybe it gets better...


The morning after, Magnolia city centre...

"Over there! You like that shop, right Dali-chan?" "Wait there are sales here! What do you think?" "How pretty! Isn't it?" "Those jeans are wonderful! You like jeans, right Dalila?"

The wind dragon slayer had no idea where to look, or which question to answer first. "Yes! Sure!" she said, letting the two girls at her sides decided which one of their question she had just answered.

"Perfect!" beamed Levy and Lucy in unison, dragging Dalila into a nearby shop.

That morning Lucy had come to Fairy Hills to pick up Dalila and bring her on a small tour of Magnolia and to do a little shopping for the wind dragon slayer. Levy had joined them, and now the three girls were wandering among Magnolia city centre, looking for clothes and supplies.

"Here is Magnolia!" had announced Lucy, gesturing around as they advanced towards the city centre. "It's a pretty big city actually. Nothing compared to Era or Crocus, but bigger than Hargeon for sure!"

Dalila had no idea where Era, Crocus, or Hargeon were, but she didn't mind, as she stared speechless at houses of strange shape all aorund her, so tall that she had to bend her neck to look at their top. "These are called 'skyscrapers'" had supplied Levy, "These one in Magnolia are not that tall. In bigger cities like Era or Crocus, there are even higher!"

Dalila was feeling her head spinning. In the daylight, Magnolia looked like an alien city. People dressed in a strange way were passing by, carrying with them bags of every colour and dimension, full of their purchases. "The fashion this year is light blue." had declared Lucy, pointing to a girl dressed all in a bright blue dress. "It suits you. You'll see now, how many shops there are and how many things you could buy!"

"I will be glad to buy something, if I survive this din!" had said Dalila. Indeed the city was roaring and loud as a square on day market. It was like everyone was shouting right in her ears. And those strange vehicles - 'cars' was their name - were thundering around the streets, and making a smell that had Dalila wrinkle her nose in disgust.

"Yes, I know for a dragon slayer this might be a little overwhelming!" had chuckled Lucy apologetically, leading her into a less crowded street. "But it's just for today, and for you to have a small flavour of the life in X794!"

Dalila had nodded, but right when she was about to speak, a motorcycle crossed her way, almost knocking her down. The guild hall is not the only place here where one risks life and limb! she thought, coughing heavily over the exhausted fumes.

Moreover, Dalila was still feeling all numb from the night she spent half lying on the bed - she had woken up that morning with Lucy knocking at her door, still dressed in the clothes Levy had given her yesterday. The wind dragon slayer had proved to be a heavy sleeper, and only after half an hour of pulling and pocking from the Celestial mage, she had finally woken up.

After a couple of coffee cups Dalila was feeling slightly better, even if for the first minute the pop music playing at high volume inside the shop was making her want to curl under a rack of t-shirts with her hands pressed on her ears. The she got used to it, and started examining with Levy the clothes piled in baskets and shelves.

"Look, Dalila, these are your size!" chirped Levy, giving her a pair of jeans. "You should try them on! Over there there are the changing rooms! I am going to take a pair also!"

"I found the sweaters! This way!" Lucy came running with a pink one in her hand. "Come! They are half priced!" she panted.

Dalila let the two girls lead the way. She was starting to have fun - even if she had been quiet most of the morning. Mh, apart from the motor-something, this is nice, she thought, looking around. Maybe X794 is not that bad, after all...

When they entered the first shop, Dalila had been staring all around, enthralled by the sight the many dresses all together. "In my time, I had only a few dresses." she had explained. "There were sewers, but it was for rich people. I had some dresses of my mom, but going shopping was a big, big event."

"Now things are different." Lucy nodded gravelly, taking a t-shirt, holding it in front of the dragon slayer, and then putting it in the basket she got at the entrance. "This is your size, we are buying this. Well, clothes are less expensive nowadays, and you have many shops and many choices. Also, fashion changes fast, and you want to change things in your wardrobe, and not wearing always the same, you know..."

No, Dalila didn't know what Lucy was talking about. And Lucy, while paying for another couple of t-shirts for the wind dragon slayer - not that Dalila had realised what was going on, readily explained in detail how fashion, shops, and all that worked.

Seeing that the Celestial mage was distracted, Levy managed to drag them first into a library, then into a comic shop, and then into a couple of her favourite bookstores.

"So, you have more clothes, but they get easily ruined?" tried Dalila, as they exited the bookstore - or better, Lucy forced Levy to come out, because the girl could not stop herself from piling books in her hands.

"Yes." Lucy sighed, as they resumed their walk. "It's a waste. I always try to control myself, but there are so many pretty things around!"

"If something is in a good state and you don't like it anymore - or maybe it is a little used but not broken - you can donate it to charity." Levy said, her arms heavy with bags full of books. "If they find out that it can't be used anymore, they will just throw it away, or find another use for it."

"That is nice. Anyway, shopping seems to take a lot of time." said Dalila, looking worriedly at the enormous amount of shops that surrounded them. "I mean, how can you try all the shops to find the best one?"

"Ah, there is not really need for that! You can try your clothes on, before buying them." Levy winked. "Never hear of a changing room before? Come on! Let's try!"

And so, for Dalila could not have a complete understanding of shopping without the 'try this on' part, now they stood there, busy in front of the racks of the half priced items.

"I would like to buy them all!" cried Lucy. "But I have to pay rent for this month!"

"I have already bought four books today... And two yesterday..." was mumbling Levy, "I can't buy something more."

Dalila looked at her friends and then at the jumpers and t-shirts hanging from the racks. The fabric is so light... she thought, lightly touching a sleeve. How is a sweater made in this way supposed to protect me from the cold?

She was about to propose to visit another shops - there were so many, after all, and sure any of them had those famous changing rooms - that a shrill voice made them all jump. "Girls! Are you here as well?"

Dalila was deafened for a couple of seconds, but then she realised it was just Evergreen.

Lucy waved happily. "Hello, Evergreen! How are you doing?"

"I am fine, thank you!" chirped the Fairy mage. "I am finding super-duper-pretty things in here!"

And to prove her assertion, she hold in front of the girls a basket full of clothes of all colours and forms. "How about you? Are you going to buy something?"

"Ehm, I am at short of money!" sighed Lucy, "Rent."

"I see. There are more sales I found around here, just have a look! They have really nice things this year. How about you two?" the mage turned to Levy and Dalila. "Found something interesting?"

Levy lifted the bag of the bookshop with an apologetic look. "I think I am done with the shopping for today. But I will take these trousers - and Dalila too!"

Evergreen winked at Levy. "Oh, I see. I tried them on before - they had not my size, what a pity - but they give, you know..." Evergreen swung her hips and winked again. "The right shape!"

Levy blushed - and Dalila also. "Ehm..." she fidgeted a little with the trousers, while Evergreen looked at her expectantly. "I like jeans." she declared. "I was not allowed to wear them when I was younger, because we had to use skirts, and jeans were for workers only... but now everyone seem to wear them so..."

"Excellent choice!" beamed Evergreen. "Jeans are so comfortable, and popular, trust me! No one will ever judge you for wearing them! And the colour of this year is light blue!"

"But I don't know about the sweaters." Dalila added quickly. "The fabric looks so thin..."

Of course she doesn't like them! thought the Fairy mage. The fabric is of a totally different quality from what was used one hundred of years ago! Poor thing, she must feel so lost! Maybe that place I found last month... "Industrial clothes are quite different from hand made ones," nodded in understanding the brunette. "But maybe I know the place for you. Let me just try these on, and then I will bring you there! But first, try those jeans on!"

"She has to!" giggled Lucy. "She has never seen a fitting room!"

Hearing that, Evergreen gasped. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

The girls rushed towards the fitting room. Dalila tried the jeans on - she was liking them, even if they were different from what she used to know. But they look good on me... I should probably buy them. Also, she didn't want to disappoint the other girls. They are trying so hard to make me feel at ease, she thought, looking at herself in the mirror. I should be collaborative.

Dalila smiled widely at her reflection. Better, she thought.

Outside, Levy was pacing up and down in front of the fitting rooms. "I love them!" she was screaming, looking at her reflection in the mirror. "I love them!"

"What did I told you?" Evergreen smiled, wrapped in a tight leopard-skin dress, and posing in front of another mirror.

"It is not fitting me!" Lucy sighed, exiting the fitting room with a defeated look. "Too small." she explained, pointing at her chest.

"Ah, Do you want mine? I have already another one!" Evergreen gave Lucy a similar pink sweater she took out from her basket.

The Celestial mage eyes glinted, and bowed one hundred times. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she cried, running into the fitting room again.

"Dalila, you look really nice!" Levy clapped her hands as Dalila advanced in the small space and placed herself in front of the giant mirror.

"You look very good too, girls!" Dalila smiled, and pointed Evergreen's dress. "That is... Wow!"

Evergreen was rocking it in that dress. Dalila was tempted to ask for who that dress was for - ok, maybe Lucy had filled her in with a little gossip about the guild members! - but she bit her tongue. She didn't want to be impolite.

On the other hand, Levy had no shame in winking at the Fairy mage and asking in a sly tone. "Who is that dress for, Evergreen?"

Since the battle of Fantasia, Evergreen had started to open up a bit. The fact that Levy and Evergreen rooms were one in front of the other at Fairy Hills had created in the last year a strange relationship between the Script mage and the Fairy mage. Despite they had very little in common, Evergreen was showing a caring personality towards the younger girl - up to the point to tell her when exactly Mrs Ruchio was going to bed and getting up, 'in case you want a certain someone to visit you after the curfew!' she had giggled.

And Levy was lending Evergreen some books from time to time, and when the brunette was home, sometimes they went together to the dormitory baths.

Dalila had never seen someone change colour so quickly as Evergreen did at the implication. "No one! Absolutely no one! Speaking of which..."

If Levy was temporarily terrified that Evergreen could tease her - she was not good at hiding her feelings as the elder girl - the Script mage was surprised, and relieved, to see the brunette jumping at Dalila's side, and circling gently her shoulders with her arm. "... Do we want to buy these, right? I know a certain someone that would definitively love them!"

"Ugh!" Dalila swallowed heavily. I have some idea who she is talking about...

The wind dragon slayer had been too aware the way a certain someone - a certain dragon slayer to be precise - had picked her up from the floor of the guild the day before, and had hesitated a little too much for her liking when it was time to put her down.

Despite being a little flustered for the treatment, Dalila had nothing of the sort going on in her mind at the moment, really. And she didn't want really to be the 'new girl' and become gossip material. No no no no! It's not the case to blush just because Laxus has been nice to me once. Otherwise, I will never hear the end of it!

"Ehm, I don't know what you are talking about!" she tried, but her red cheeks betrayed her. Dalila was not good at hiding embarrassment - or hiding any other feeling, for all that mattered.

"Aaah, yes yes, I think you know!" Evergreen giggle, but even she thought Dalila was fun to tease, she was too considerate to gossip upon that matter. For now, at least. In Evergreen's opinion, the blond dragon slayer was already well cooked, but she restrained herself from any comment. "Well, you buy these, isn't it?"

Dalila nodded. "I like them really much! But I can't wait to check that shop of yours - I have a good feeling about this..."

"Yes!" Evergreen nodded, adjusting a strand of pale hair behind Dalila's ear. "It is a vintage and second hand shop. Thing there are hand made, and maybe it will be easier for you to find something of your liking."

Clearly Evergreen had an eye for these kind of things. The shop when they entered a while later, was full of second hand clothes, but that were much more like Dalila's style.

Huge, heavy sweaters, were pending from the racks, among jackets of all form and dimension. Shirts, belts, long skirts and boots, all of that was similar to what Dalila knew back in her times. "Oh my god..." breathed the wind dragon slayer as they entered.

Evergreen smiled proudly. "Fashion had changed much, and even though these have not been made but twenty or so years ago, you might find something that resembles your style."

Lucy and Levy were walking in the shop gobsmacked. "This is wonderful Evergreen!" Lucy managed to say "How did you discovered this place? We should go shopping together more often!"

"Shouldn't we?" the mage winked. "I am so happy you girls like this! Let's find something that fits you, shall we?" she asked then, leading Dalila among the shelves.

They found much more than expected - even Levy was convinced to buy a pair of boots, despite her bags full of new books.

When they went out, it was almost one in the afternoon, and the Fairy mage excused herself. "I have a couple of errands to do before lunch!" she smiled. "But I will see you in the evening, right?"

They waved her goodbye, as she disappeared in the crowd of the city centre. "And now?" asked Lucy. "I am broke, so you decide!"

Levy giggled. "I am done as well. I think I better go back to Fairy Hills. I have that translation job to do yet."

"Ah, right!" Lucy nodded. "Levy works for the Council sometimes." explained the Celestial mage to Dalila. "She is a wonderful translator and she is highly esteemed, and-no Levy-chan, do not talk back to me! We all know you are modest, too!"

After Levy had left, the two girls set up for lunch. They choose a small cafe, a little far away from the madding crowd.

"So," smiled Lucy, as Dalila and her sat down at a table inside. "How do you like it so far?"

Dalila had been quieter than Lucy expected. Maybe it was too much for her as a first day? was worrying the Celestial mage. But shopping is stress-relieving! It is scientifically approved, after all!

But Dalila just smiled. "I like Magnolia very much." she said. "But it is... big. And crowded. And..." she hesitated, before saying, "And noisy. Maybe it is my hearing, I don't know, but I feel like everyone is screaming in my ear."

Lucy nodded thoughtfully. "I see. The sales had started just today, and they are attracting more people than usual!" Also Natsu doesn't like when I go to shopping. Not that I ask him to come with me, but he follows me anyway...

"Ehiiii!"

"Like now," Dalila grimaced. "It is like someone is screaming 'ehi' in my ear!"

But they realised quickly that there was someone screaming 'ehi' a few steps from their table. Lucy lifted her eyes and her face enlightened "Lisanna, Elfman! How come that you are here?"

Dalila turned, and saw a young girl with short, white hair, that looked much like Mirajane.

"Hello! My name is Dalila, nice to meet you!" Dalila smiled politely.

And in fact, that was Lisanna Strauss, the younger sibling of Mirajane. "Oh, you are Dalila then! My name is Lisanna Strauss!" beamed the girl, stretching out a hand for Dalila. "Mirajane's younger sister! Mira told us that you have just entered the guild!"

Dalila felt a warm smile naturally pull up to her lips. 'just entered the guild'... It was kind from Lisanna not to mention... Well, Dalila didn't want to think about that now! I am starving, and I want to enjoy this lunch!

So, Dalila bowed her head, saying "My pleasure"

"And that is my big brother Elfman!" added Lisanna, pointing to a huge, bulky man, big enough to wrestle with four men at one time., momentarily full of bags of any possible size. "Nice to meet you!" he cried, making a nearby waited jolt in surprise.

"Do you want to sit with us?" asked Lucy with a smile, pointing two empty sits next to them. "We were about to have lunch!"

"Sure!" Lisanna let herself fall on a chair. "Oh my, I am exhausted!" she chuckled. "We just turned back from a job, I was hoping we were going to make it for the sales..." "And we did, lil' sis!" laughed triumphantly Elfman, raising their bags full of purchases. "Like real men!"

Dalila glanced at Lisanna. Even if the girl looked exhausted, she looked like she was bubbling like a child, and her blue, big eyes, were sparkling with outbursting vitality and joy. She must be a little younger than me... Maybe even younger than Levy?

"You have found plenty of things!" said the dragon slayer admired, pointing at their bags.

The girl clapped her hands happily. "Yes, yes! We did! Have you found something you like?"

"Yes!" Lucy beamed, "We were with Levy a while ago..."

As Lucy described their errands, and Elfman enquired about Evergreen, observing how much 'manly' she was, Lisanna glanced every now and then at the wind dragon slayer. Dalila looked tired, but her porcelain skin and her grey eyes were following attentively Lucy's recount, commenting every now and then what the Celestial mage was saying.

"We need to check one last shop!" "But you said you were broke!" "Yes I am! But maybe..."

Lisanna giggled. Dalila looked perfectly at ease. If one didn't know what had she been through... thought the younger Strauss sibling.

They had lunch all together, and when they went out of the restaurant, the streets were less crowded than before. They all settled to walk back home, Lucy and Lisanna in the front, talking about some shops they had had no time to visit for that day, Elfman and Dalila behind them.

"Do you and your sisters go on jobs very often?" asked Dalila, to make a little conversation. Elfman was one of the most normal persons she had met so far. Apart the whole 'man' trope.

"Yes!" bellowed the giant, looking down at her with a big smile. "I usually take jobs alone, but my sisters are like real men! I like to go on jobs with them."

Dalila smiled. He was just bubbly as his younger sister was, if you got past the two-meters height.

"I also had a younger sister." said Dalila softly, letting her gaze run over the people passing by. "She was about.. six years younger than me."

Elfman slowed his pace. "I see." he said, with a smile. "Where you very close?"

Damn, he knew very well that Dalila had just lost her family, all at once. Her sister, as well. 'No living relatives' had said Mira to them, when she explained who was the person that the Thunder Legion had found in an old, abandoned mine in the Blue Mountains.

Elfman remembered too well the time when Mira and him had lost Lisanna. It had been a living nightmare. It was like losing a piece of himself. But although painful, he had found out that the only thing that made him feel better was to remember his sister just as sweet and happy as she was, and remembering the bond they had shared, not as something that had been broken, but as something that was still intact, despite the loss. Remembering how close they were, and the love they have exchanged... That is the thing that makes you stand up and keep going, he thought, looking at the white-haired head of Lisanna in front of him.

Dalila tilted her head. "Well... We had a big age gap, and... but yes, we were quite close." she bit her lip. "She was sick."

"Was she?" asked Elfman.

Dalila nodded. "Yes... She was... We had no idea what it was, through... She was not eating much, I guess there was something related to it..." talking about her sister felt painful.

Her younger sibling had been sick since the age of twelve. She had stopped eating all fo a sudden, and soon had become too weak even to stand. During that first harsh winter, when Dalila was eighteen and was already working at the music school, all the money she had put away in two years had to be spent in doctors, and precious medicines, and herbs and warm clothes.

With the spring her sister got better, but when winter came again, she had fallen ill once more.

And she had always been like that, until Dalila... Until I got stuck in the mine.

"She was... I hope she got better after... After..." her voice died in her throat, and Dalila had to stop talking.

Elfman didn't say anything. He understood. He only placed one of his giant hands on Dalila's shoulder, and squeezed it gently. "You are good. Your sister would be proud of you now. Like a real man!"

Dalila smiled gratefully back at the big man. "Tell me," she chuckled sniffing, "about this job you did with Lisanna! I am curious about it!"

In front of them, Lisanna and Lucy had quitted talking about shopping, and the Take Over mage had passed to more serious topics.

"How is Cobra, Lucy?" asked the girl in a low voice. "I have talked with Mira, but she has refused to give me any clue of what happened in Era... She keeps telling that he is home and that is the important thing, but... Hasn't he been... mistreated, or something?" she asked with fear in her eyes.

Lucy expression saddened. "I don't think so, but... The truth is, I don't know. I have bee trying to talk to him yesterday, but he has refused to speak to me."

Also the other member of team Natsu had tried, but with little success. Cobra had been dismissing anyone - oh well, he didn't even turned, letting Kinana shook her head slowly, signalling to his team mates he didn't want to talk.

"Only Master has spoke to him." mumbled Lucy. "I guess for not this is the only thing we can get."

Lucy had been worried as well that he might had been beaten, or famished, or worse.

However, the day prior, a few minutes before she left the guild, Makarov had called the Celestial mage in his office, and had told her that he had just spoken with Cobra, and that he was fine, but he just needed a few days to set back to his life. "It had been more upsetting than he wants to admit. But I trust that, had someone laid a finger on him, he would have told me." Master tone was grave and his forehead was cut by deep lines. "You will wait until he feels better before taking a new job. Maybe a week or so. We can cover your rent, if you need..."

"O no, Master." Lucy had said, "There is no need. But, are you sure..." Sure he will be the same again? The same Cobra that was mocking them and fighting with 'Salamander', but who was able to smile from time to time?

Makarov had shook his head. "I hope so, Lucy. I hope so. I trust you will talk to the others, right?"

"So," concluded Lisanna, "Master thinks is just a matter of time?"

'Just a matter of time' was not exactly how Lucy would have put it. Cobra was not an easy person, however... However, maybe we should give him his time first. And then, if he is still all moody, we might think about something else to make him feel home again. After all, it was after several months that he had grown accostumed to life at Fairy Tail, right?

There is no need to be negative! We must try to be optimistic!

"Yes." Lucy nodded. "Let's hope Master is right. One week, and he will be the same as before that hideous Rune Knights came at his door!"


Later that evening, at Fairy Hills...

Lucy had taken upon herself the task of providing Dalila with all that she might need. After a whole day spent buying shampoos, towels, bedsheets and shoes, the two girls had come back to Fairy Hills full of bags and packages.

Dalila was worried she had spent too much money, but Lucy had reassured her. "You have bought only the essential!" she protested, placing the bags on the floor. "You do not many clothes for now - trust me, two pair of shoes are not many. Now, go into the shower! I will wait for you here, and then we can go to the guild and have dinner!"

However, there was a small detail that Lucy had overlooked. But others had taken care of it. When Dalila had come out of the bathroom wrapped in a huge towel - in a cloud of smell of lavender, she found Lucy with Levy and Evergreen all sitting on her couch, giggling and whispering.

"Hello Dalila! How was shopping?" asked Evergreen cheerfully, hiding something behind her back.

Dalila, feeling much better after the shower, not surrounded by people yelling and talking loudly, was feeling her head a little less pounding that that afternoon. In the shower she had wept a little, thinking about how would it had been if she was with her friends.

Come on, I should not think about this! she had scolded herself a minute later, putting what Lucy had called 'conditioner' on her head. Lucy and the others want to be my friends as well. They are such sweet girls, and are trying to help...

I am not substituting anyone, she had declared to herself, stepping out of the shower. They are just other friends I will make. Yes! she had exclaimed, looking at her reflection in the mirror. New friends do not necessarily take the place of the old ones. I am here now, and I will always bring my girlfriends into my heart.

She had smiled widely seeing the three mages on her couch. "Shopping was very fun, Evergreen! I bought... How do you call them?" she asked to Lucy.

"Sneakers." giggled the Celestial mage, leaning onto the couch. "This girl" she giggled, pointing at the wind dragon slayer, "is madly in love with sneakers! Can you believe it?"

"Oh!" Levy laughed. "Really? Let us see!"

"Over there!" Dalila laughed, pointing at a pair of brand new shoes in a corner. "They are so comfortable!"

The girls all crowded, and Evergreen inspected her purchases carefully. "Well, if you haven't taste for fashion!" she chimed. "You will underrate us!"

Levy was a little surprised when she found out that Dalila had bought several t-shirt. "In love with sneakers and t-shirts!" whispered Lucy. "She says they are comfy!"

Dalila was still wrapped in her towel. I have to chose what to wear now!

"Before letting you dress, we must do something!" Lucy beamed, and Evergreen took something from the couch.

Dalila raised an eyebrow. Was it... a stamp?

"Master told me that you had a guild mark by Mavis, but that it was kind of 'temporary one'." explained Lucy with a solemn tone. "So, now we have here the real stamp!"

Dalila stood eyes wide open, not sure on how to reply. "Really?" she breathed. "Are you-Can... Can I..."

"Join?" Lucy giggled. "Sure you can! You are a Fairy Tail member, after all!"

"Were do you want it?" asked Evergreen, brandishing the stamp like it was her fan. "Same spot and colour of the other one?"

Dalila was too overwhelmed to speak. She simply nodded, and sat on the couch. The girls surrounded her, and Evergreen pressed the stamp right on her tight. It tickled for an instant, and then, after the Fairy mage lifted the stamp a black guild mark was starring on her tight.

"It looks very good." Levy squeezed Dalila in a tight embrace. "You are a fairy now! Officially officially!"

"More than officially!" cried Lucy happily.

"Welcome on board girl!" Evergreen winked playfully.

Dalila didn't know what to say. Feeling her chest full of warmth, and happiness, she managed only to say, with tears in her eyes. "Thank you... Thank you to all of you!"


That evening, Fairy Tail guild hall...

Cobra looked away disgusted. Fucking fairies. Some more laughs reached his ears. Having shit for fucking brains...

No one was noticing his dark mood, and Cobra was more than thankful for that. He didn't want to give any explanation to anyone. Not even fucking talking to any pair of useless tits tonight.

Well not exactly no one had noticed. "Here." said Kinana gently, giving him another glass. "Plain vodka, as required."

Cobra mumbled a thank you, and shot the whole glass. It was the fourth that night. Sometimes he wished he could get drunk and wasted, and forget for once about the fucking world. Instead, he was not only forced to stay awake - because alcohol was not going to knock him down - but also forced to listen to all those damn souls, giggling and being noisy and happy, and...

"Bad night?"

Cobra shrugged. "As always, Cubellios."

Kinana nodded, and asked no more on the subject. However, there was something she wanted to tell Erik. "You have yet to talk to Lucy." she reminded him. "She had come a few times yesterday, but you have not even say 'hi' to her."

The poison slayer raised en eyebrow. "So? What have you become, my baby sitter in my absence?"

Kinana tried to smile, but the bitterness in Erik voice was making it hard. "No, I am not." she said quietly. "But I am a friend, Erik. And it is up to friends sometimes to point out behaviour that might..." she looked for the right words, " ...might hurt someone else."

Erik said nothing. But his silence was an eloquent answer, for his long time friend. "I am just pointing this out, Erik." said Kinana softly. "I don't want to reprimand you or anything. But she looked hurt when she left yesterday."

"You are forgetting that I can hear what no one here can." hissed him, "And I can tell you very well that I am not in her mind at the moment." Cobra glanced in the direction of were Lucy was sitting with Dalila. The two had been there since when they came to the guild for dinner an hour ago, and even if he could hear Lucy's soul softly murmuring and asking herself if he was ok, Cobra growled under his breath.

Kinana didn't seem to notice where his glare was directed. "Exactly because you can hear things you should know that Lucy and the others have tried to talk to you all yesterday. They are worried for you, Erik! I don't need to have any magic to be sure of it." Kinana frowned. When dragon slayers get stubborn...

"I am not stubborn!"

"Yes, you are being now. A little." Kinana smiled. She didn't want to fight. But she had sent Natsu away three times the day prior, and twice already that night. Another stubborn slayer...

"They are waiting for you to do the first step, and to take your time." she mumbled, moving to order some mugs on a shelf. "They are just trying to respect your boundaries."

Cobra gritted his teeth, but he knew Cubellios was right. He had been avoiding everyone - except exchanging a few words with Master - and since all the guild knew that the resident poison slayer whenever wanted to be left alone really meant it, and he was accepting no oversight by anyone on the matter, no one had dared to come close to him, but Natsu and Lucy.

But even if Cobra knew it, he could help his skin crawl whens he heard the Celestial mage laugh over something that poor excuse for a slayer had just said.

"And I had had this pupil of mine, he was so funny! Let me tell you what he had said to me once..." was telling the wind dragon slayer.

Oh, Cobra could hear too well Dalila's soul wretched to her very bones, like a body without any meat on it left. Her soul sounded both like dead silent like a devastated land, and at the same time it was whining and howling in sorrow and grief. But what had the slayer blood boil in frustration, and anger, was that despite everything, he could still hear the smallest hint of a melody, standing above everything, like the gentlest touch of the wind.

And he could not bear himself to listen to that song of hope, a mere whisper, but that Dalila's soul was nourishing, making it grow in strength and beauty.

As the hours went by, he looked again and again at the table were Lucy and Dalila were sitting.

But the end of the evening, the new dragon slayer had been surrounded by other mages, that where bombarding her with questions and trying to make her laugh - and she was, even if she thought Macao drinking a pint of beer in one gulp was a little weird.

And that oversized blond always growling around her, like a sort of dog or anything, was getting on his nerves every second more.

Not that Dalila had noticed that. She was too lost turning her petite head left and right, smiling to everyone, always with that fucking smile...

"You know that you should have not to blame her."

Kinana had come back to him with a new full glass, and her sentence felt like a slap.

"Who?" he spat. He looked angrily at Dalila. Was her fault that his only friend was turning against him, then? "Snow White over there?"

"Erik! Her name is Dalila."

"I don't fucking care about her name, or about her in general!"

"You have not yet talked to her!"

"I did." hissed Cobra. "I said 'fuck off' just yesterday. Enough for me."

"I am sure she is a sweet girl." Kinana started polishing a mug. "The others seem to think the same. You should not be so biased towards her. She has just arrived, after all!"

Cobra clicked his tongue annoyed. Kinana was about to tell him that it was not Dalila's fault that she was getting so much attention - she was not surely seeking it - and that it was about time that everyone should treat her just as anybody else, when she was called to a table.

"I will come back in a while!" she smiled, before going to take Gray's order.

Cobra shrugged. He was done for the night. He rolled his eye, when he heard Gajeel bellowing that he was going to train Dalila, starting from the very next morning. I want to puke.

"At dawn!?" cried Dalila in panic. "But it's so early!"

"I am yer training, you wind slayer! I said dawn, and dawn will be!"

Staying home alone is depressing, but here is fucking unnerving, he thought, before swallowing what was left of his vodka, and slamming the glass on the counter.


The morning after...

Gajeel had not joked when he had said he was coming to Fairy Hills exactly at dawn.

Mrs Ruchio had just woken up, and was beginning her duties of the day, when the iron slayer and his Exceed showed up at the doors of the dormitory.

Dalila, for once up on time after Levy had lent her her alarm clock, heard them screaming from the second floor.

"Ye old hag! I can stay were I the hell want!" "Stop behave in such a way, young man! None of the girls is awaken yet! Get out of that door!"

Levy was up as well, wanting to read the books she had bought the day before. "What is going on?" she frowned, opening the door of her room.

"Troubles, if I hear well!" grunted Dalila, who just thrown on the first t-shirt she had found and something Lucy had called 'yoga-pants'. And I have yet to have my first coffee in the morning!

The small Script mage was wearing some prosentable clothes on, and totally unaware of what was going to happen, she came downstairs.

"Oi!" Gajeel called at the two girls right when Mrs Ruchio was about to shove him pout of the door, armed with a vase. "It took you your good time! Come on, you two, let's go!"

"Eh? Me?" Levy pointed at herself, but before she could turn and run back into her room, Dalila had already seized her by the wrist. "Come on, Levy! Let's go!"

The wind dragon slayer had been a little bit worried of starting her 'training' alone with the iron dragon slayer. After the walk of the day before, travelling from one shop to another, she felt exhausted, but she believed Gajeel was not taking it as a reason to go easy on her. If I have made an idea of how much dragon slayers are strong... It was not her case, apparently. Not yet, at least.

Sure, Pantherlily was a comforting presence - even if Dalila had exchanged with him only a few words, it was clear that the character of the Exceed was balancing the grouchy manners of his black haired friend.

And Dalila had no idea what to expect, so she was happy when the familiar presence of Levy didn't leave her, but just started walking - resigned - next to them, down to the hill and into the sleeping city.

The streets of Magnolia were quiet in the early morning, and the frost was whitening the gardens and the trees they passed by. Dalila took a deep breath of fresh air. Many smells came to her nose at the same time, but she could not discern anything.

They all proceeded in silence - Levy still drowsy, following blindly Gajeel, and Lily flying around them.

"I assume you have never used magic by yourself before, Dalila." said suddenly the Exceed.

The wind dragon slayer nodded. "I was not a mage before. I didn't even knew one, before Mavis."

She saw the cat nodding thoughtfully. "I hope you are not worried. Il might be a strange feeling at the beginning, but you will get used to it pretty fast."

Before Dalila could answer, Gajeel cut in the conversation. "She's not going to use magic for today." he grunted. "She has no idea how it works."

"Gajeel!" hissed Levy.

"What Shrimp? That's the truth."

"Anyway-" "Well, this is true indeed." Dalila added quickly, putting a hand on Levy's shoulder. "I have only seen a few people using it, but apart form that, I am totally unfamiliar with it."

Levy rolled her eyes. "If you never try, you will never know. Dragon slayer magic is hard to use. The first you begin, the first you will be able to learn."

"That's because yer a fast learner Shrimp." chuckled the iron dragon slayer.

Dalila widened her eyes a little, especially because Levy huffed and said nothing. The way Gajeel had complimented her didn't sound like a compliment at all. I don't want to be the third wheel! thought Dalila, but was soon reassured when she looked at Lily. The cat exchange with her a knowing look, glaring at the two mages in front of him. Then, he rolled his eyes, as to say 'hopeless peas in a pot'.

Dalila giggled. If Lily is ok, then I guess I am ok too. We can be the third and the fourth wheel.

"I hear you two sneering!" growled Gajeel, turning and pointing his red eyes on the two of them. "See if yer laughing again in a few hours. Now, all fo you, come on!" grunted the slayer, and he started running on the street.

"I am all shivers!" chuckled Dalila, keeping the pace with the grouchy, dark haired man.

Gajeel smirked evilly. And Dalila soon found out he had a good reason to do so.

The sun was high up in the sky, and they had ended up int he woods around Magnolia, when the iron dragon slayer allowed the small group to stop.

"That will do!" he chuckled. He was not even panting. A run for an hour? It was not even a warm up for him. "Yer tired?" he asked, seeing Dalila collapsing on the ground.

"Me?" panted the wind dragon slayer. "Not at all."

"Gihihi. And ye, shorty?"

Levy was sweating from every possible pore, so out of breath she was unable to speak. She was bent in two, both arms on her knees, and shot a glare at Gajeel.

Dalila stood up and went to the small girl. "Come on, Levy-chan! You don't want to make him win, right?"

Levy shook her head, but the breath had yet to be returned to her. The small Script mage was feeling each one of her fiber trembling, and was cursing whatever had made her come down the stairs that morning.

Levy turned to her left, eyeing another figure that had collapsed on the ground, and was met with equally exhausted look.

"I-Why am I-pant- even here?" "Running is the best way to warm up, Miss Lucy. I got the chance so we might work on your resistance. We shall do it more often in the future."

Dalila chuckled and turned to two other figures sitting on the ground. Oh well, 'Miss' Lucy was sitting, and looked like she had no intention to stand up but in a long time. She didn't even have enough strength to protest, and just glanced up at the tall, human-like goat, with black glasses and a suit, that was standing next to her.

"Lu-I-pant..." Levy tried to say something - excuse herself for dragging her friend into that morning torture - but gave up. I will tell Lu-chan I have nothing to do with this as soon as I have enough breath - oh my - why me?

When Gajeel had started to run, Levy had grumbled but had kept up his pace. She knew that Gajeel could run for miles and much faster than what he was doing now, so they were lucky, all considered. They were heading out of the city, and they had almost reached the fields around Magnolia, when suddenly Gajeel had made a sharp turn, going back in a labyrinth of alleys and back streets.

"Gaj-Gajeel!" had panted Levy, "Where are you going?"

The slayer had made no answer, but kept going into small alleys and desert streets.

"Do you know were we are going?" had asked Dalila dubiously. Those streets looked all the same - and were equally stinking.

"Nope!"

Levy had frowned. "And-pant-how can you-" "My nose, Shrimp."

Levy couldn't see the smirk on Gajeel lips, but when they had finally ended up in a more lighten and big road, she had finally seen why the iron dragon slayer had taken them suddenly back into the streets of Magnolia. "Hello Lu-chan!"

"Oh, hi girls! Hello Gajeel, Lily!" "Good morning young ladies, and gentlemen."

Lucy was out as well that morning, running lightly with Caprico at her side. She had also thought that a small run in the morning might be of help for the last days she had spent not training.

"Gihi. Yer coming with us, right?" the iron slayer smirked. He was not even looking at Lucy, but directly at the goat next to her.

"Actually we are just-" "Absolutely, Mr Redfox. Thank you for the invitation, we will be glad to join you."

Lucy had rolled her eyes. Caprico had taken upon himself the mission of training her, and the goat was not losing any occasion yo make her run, or meditate, or...

"Come on!" Dalila had winked. "It will be fun!"

'Fun' revealed to be a term Lucy had wanted to discuss pretty soon. Gajeel had made them run out of the city, past the corn fields that surrounded Magnolia, until they were int he woods.

They went up and down hills, crossed brooks and jumped over dead trees and rocks, the iron slayer never slowing down his pace, sometimes turning back and sneering at the three, panting girls. Caprico was keeping up with them easily, and Pantherlily was flying right above their heads.

Surprisingly, Dalila was showing a very good resistance.

"You are-pant-a true dragon slayer already!" had chuckled Levy at some point, who was starting to feel her stomach ache.

"Uh?" Dalila looked back at her. "I used to walk a lot in the mountains... We had not-how do you call them, Lucy?"

"Buses!" breathed the Celestial mage.

"That's the word!"

"Ya back there!" barked the iron slayer in front of them. "We can go faster if ya have breath to chat!"

The girls fell dead silent at once.

Now, they were all resting on the grass, and after a while, Gajeel went sitting in front of the girls.

"Gihihi," the iron dragon slayer smirked, looking straight at Dalila, "So here it goes your first official lesson of dragon slayer magic. Ya excited?"

Dalila nodded. She heard Levy sneered next to her, and Gajeel flashed a smile in her direction, before getting serious again. "First of all, ya must understand that dragon slayer magic is different from other types of magic, because it starts inside you." Gajeel pointed the thin body of the wind slayer. "Tiny body doesn't mean little magic, remember"

At the questioning stare of the wind slayer, Gajeel pointed Lucy instead. "Bunny girl there, she's got her keys. She has magic inside her, but without her keys, is like she had no magic at all. Shrimp here," Gajeel pointed to Levy "Is more like us - but still, she has to write something to use her power."

Dalila opened her eyes wide open at Levy, who nodded solemnly. "Script magic. It's a form of Letter Magic"

"Well, anyway," Gajeel cleared his throat, "these type of magic are different from ours. Ours lives fully inside us, and we need our body only to use it." The iron dragon slayer puffed out his chest proudly. "And our will guides us, and we can reach incredible amount of power with the only sources we find inside ourselves."

Pantherlily muffled a laugh. "Now, Gajeel, you are exaggerating..."

"Ya should know I am not joking, cat." Gajeel had gone deadly serious. "Do ya think Salamander was able to beat fuckin' Sting and fuckin' Rogue at the Games only because he was stronger? Nah. He was weaker than each one of them, but on that battlefield he found a reason good enough to blast them both." Gajeel snarled. He had been cut off from that battle, and that one was still damn burning on his iron scales.

"Or how do ya think I was able to fight Rogue the final day? With all that Jiemma had taught him, and with Shadow possessing him? I ate the shadows themselves that time." The iron dragon slayer snarled, putting his sharp teeth in display. Dalila gasped, when the shadows around him trembled, and she felt a wave of cold swiping over them.

"Yer feeling them, right." growled the iron slayer, and his ruby eyes glinted in the daylight. "Yer perceiving magic already around ye. That's good."

Dalila swallowed. The feeling had not disappeared yet, and was lingering all around them. A gust of wind, come from nowhere, swiped around them, and the repulsive sensation disappeared.

The iron slayer chuckled. "That one was good, ya featherweight! But ya need to get better to fight off shadows!"

"That one-what?" croaked Dalila, turning right and left. What had she done? But on her sides there were only Lucy and Levy, all smiles.

"What did I do?" asked Dalila with round eyes.

"You just made a small gust of wind with your magic, Miss Dalila." supplied Caprico. "The uneasiness produced by the unknown feeling of the shadows being awaken has produced in you an instinctive and natural reaction: although still weakly, you have tried to push them away."

"Oh!" Dalila stood in amazement "Really?" she cried. "I did it? Really?"

"Yes, you did!" chirped Levy - Lucy smiled weakly, she had not yet caught her breath after the run. "I felt it too!"

I am using magic! thought Dalila, swelling with excitement. "Can you this again?" she asked to Gajeel.

"That? I don't need to attack ya for ya to use yer magic!" The iron dragon slayer clicked his tongue and looked severely at her. "Only an idiot would start a train like that... Nah, I'll teach ya how to meditate, and to listen to the magic in you. Don't pout like that," he chuckled, seeing Dalila smile faltering. "Ya'll become stronger in no time!"

"Good!" Lucy had found her breath and strength again, and moved to stand up. "I see you are really busy. Now, if you don't mind, I'll-" "I would advise you to stay and take advantage of the perfect occasion to train your meditation skills, Miss Lucy." Caprico said severely.

Lucy looked at him pleading, but seeing the goat raising an eyebrow, she sunk back on the grass. "Fine..." she mumbled.


Later that evening, Fairy Tail guild hall...

Sdeng!

"Shabedo-bop!"

Sdrung!

"Shabedobaduba!"

Sdeng! Sdong!

"Duuuba-du-dop!"

Dalila grimaced, trying her best to hide her concerned expression.

It didn't worked.

"Yeah, I know it can be strange for the first times, you can't say it's bad!" whispered the Script mage from the chair next to her.

"Shabedidudu-ta-tarà!"

"Has he ever-ehm-taken any lesson?"

"Dup-du-badà!"

Sdrang!

"I don't think so..."

Dalila sighed. Cupid has totally blinded her. It was clear that Levy was seeing Gajeel with the eyes of love.

More than 'eyes', I should say 'ears'... sighed again the wind dragon slayer, as another accord teared from the guitar offended her eardrums.

They had been training the whole day, and Gajeel had let Lucy, Levy and Dalila leave only when it was half way thought the afternoon. They had meditated for four hours at least, and Gajeel had tried Dalila's strength - only to define her a 'featherweight'.

It had not been very nice, but Dalila knew it was only fair. Even her recognised the null physical strength she possesses. And when she had not been able to do even a push-up, the iron slayer had groaned in exasperation.

"Ya grew up how?"

"I had not planned to do push-ups one day!" had protested Dalila, looking enviously at Lucy that had reached proudly the number of four push-ups in a row.

Meditating had proved to be just as hard. The concentration, the immobility, the attention to the position and to the rhythm of breath, were all things so new to the wind slayer that at the end of the day she was more than ready to collapse to bed.

"I don't want to wake up for a week." she had mumbled to Levy, as they were walking up to Fairy Hills.

"Nah!" the Script mage was just as tired, but had other plans for the evening. "Let's go to the guild! We will have such a nice dinner!"

The idea of eating had brightened up Dalila's mood, and truth to her word, Levy had proved to have the best trick.

"We had a hard day training with Gajeel Mira!" had said the bluenette to the barmaid with a sweet voice. "We are starving! What do you suggest we might eat?"

"Oh poo girls! You had a busy day, haven't you?" Mirajane put a hand on her cheek "No worries, I have the perfect menu for a hungry dragon slayers! Shall I bring two?"

"Yes, thank you very much Mira!"

The menu, a meal that was a complete meal with the portions almost doubled, had arrived in less than ten minutes, and Dalila had eaten all of it - under Levy's stupefied eyes, because those were portions good enough to satisfy even Natsu, which was saying something.

"What? I am hungry!" had whined the dragon slayer, after the Script mage had watched with increasing horror her devouring the meat and rice that Mirajane had just brought them.

And after that, the iron dragon slayer had come to the guild, and, probably due to the couple of pints that Kinana had served him, he had pulled out a guitar from nowhere, and had started moving the fingers over the cords, blabblering variants of 'shabedo'.

Dalila had understood that it was going to end bad, really bad, when a few of the members of the tables around had protested loudly, and especially Pantherlily had such a defeated look in his eyes, that Dalila had almost been tempted to buy him a beer.

And Pantherlily discouragement had never been more justified. From the very first accords, it was quite clear to Dalila that Gajeel had little idea on how to exactly play a guitar. Or that he had few ideas, and all mixed up.

But she was forced by Levy's presence next to her to sit down and listen. It must be a recurring event her at the guild... she thought, noticing how Mirajane was carefully avoiding their table, and from the other side of the guild hall, Lucy and Erza threw her a pity look.

Sdeng! Sdrung! "Shabedo-bo-ya fucking asshole!"

"Run Happy!" "Aye sir!"

Dalila breathed in relief, and for once, she looked gratefully at the blue Exceed and his all-fired-up friend, flying high up towards the ceiling, carrying away with them the musical instrument that the iron dragon slayer had been able to turn into an instrument of torture.

Gajeel had started running after Natsu in the moment the guitar had slipped through his fingers, and Levy was trying to keep him into place. "You will make him break it!" "Give it back to me, ya asshole!"

Dalila quickly jumped up from her sit, and excused herself with Lily - who was acting as if nothing had happened - and rushed the the table where Erza, Lucy, Wendy and Gray were having dinner. Dalila could not see Cobra anywhere, but she guessed he was home for that night. I still have to say sorry for bumping into him a few days ago...

"You survived!" chuckled Lucy, making room next to her.

"I am training my resistance, Miss Lucy." Dalila said, puffing out her chest and raising an eyebrow, in a perfect imitation of Caprico that made Lucy snort in her smoothy.

"Lucy told us you went with Gajeel-san training!" Wendy smiled from the other side of the table.

"Yes, we all did!" Dalila nodded. "We did meditation mostly, but it was hard! I had never meditate before."

"My mum, Grandine, made me meditate a lot." Wendy nodded approvingly. "It is just a matter of practice really. You will get better soon."

From behind a huge slice of cake, Erza lifted her fork with a solemn look. "Meditation is the first ability a mage must acquire. No magic can surge in your help without being able to keep your focus."

Next to her, Gray smiled. "Before coming to Fairy Tail, my master made me meditate in the snow. Hard, but useful."

Dalila smiled back - she was a little taken aback by the fact his waist was bare in the chill air of the evening. He might not be wearing any pants either... she thought briefly, and grimaced.

They all kept chatting quietly, when suddenly Charle looked up and let out a scream. "Happy!"

But it was too late.

Natsu and Happy had been dodging Gajeel for the whole guild, but now the cat had grown tired. Happy lost its balance and fell down, right in the time Gajeel jumped high in the air, trying to seized his beloved instrument from the two robbers.

But, with Gajeel jumping up, and Happy and Natsu falling down, instead of grabbing his guitar, the iron dragon slayer caught the two robbers themselves. Not that he was not pleased. "AH!" he cried. "Now I will fucking teach ye two..." He smiled flashing iron fangs.

"Gajeel! The guitar!" cried Levy from behind him, but luckily, Dalila had turned right on time to catch the guitar before it broke on the floor. "Got it!" she chimed, lifting it in the air.

"Don't give it to him!" pleaded Lucy with a whisper, that Gajeel didn't hear because he was too busy strangling Natsu at the same moment.

"No, I wasn't planning to." Dalila winked, placing the guitar in her lap. "An instrument is always an instrument. It would be a pity if it got ruined. Besides..." she murmured, "I can maybe play something."

"Do you know how to play the guitar?" asked Wendy amazed.

"Yes..." mumbled Dalila, adjusting the guitar on her lap. "I should remember something..."

There were some accords and an old song coming to her memory. Wendy leant on her stomach on the bench, with her hands under her chin. I hope she sings the song of last time... It was so beautiful!

But Dalila had something else in mind. She didn't know many songs on the guitar, after all. Her hands run softly over the instrument. One time. Two times.

And then, she started to sing. "Moon river, wider than a mile/I'm crossing you in style some day..."

Her voice was caressing, barely audible. But as if a spell had been cast on the whole guild hall, everyone shut up in complete silence, frozen in surprise.

"Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker/Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way..."

People were elbowing one another, pointing the wind dragon slayer. Even Mirajane had stopped halfway reaching for a bottle of wine on a high shelf. Cana suffocated a sound burp, and placed her barrel on the side.

Gajeel mumbled something from above Natsu, but none of them dared to move, too afraid to interrupt the wind slayer soft singing.

Levy felt her mouth bend in a smile, at the sight of Dalila, surrounded by her hair like a sort of magical aura itself, playing with long, slender fingers the instrument that had been so roughly thrown at her. I didn't believe a guitar could be played so softly... thought the Script mage. She sings so beautifully...

"Two drifters, off to see the world/There's such a lot of world to see..."

Dalila's gaze was lost on an indefinite point in front of her. The melody was carrying her mind away, and she was singing, forgetting everything around her. It was a song sung to the moon, the unreachable 'dream maker', walking the sky every night, with her bright, mysterious smile cast down on the earth.

She spoke slowly, barely touching the cords of the guitar with her fingertips.

"We're after the same rainbow's end/Waitin' 'round the bend/My huckleberry friend..."

Master Makarov had placed the mug of beer on the table and was listening carefully to the girl singing. She is truly a real singer. He had heard of Wendy praising Dalila for her beautiful voice, but he had not imagined that the wind dragon slayer could sing so well.

She was a music teacher, wasn't she? Now Makarov could see it. The atmosphere in the guild hall seemed to be vibrating and whispering. Was it possible that her voice held some mysterious power? That's a possibility, after all.

But the old Master had no intention on dwelling into that hypothesis now. He leant back on his chair, and closed his eyes, savouring for a moment the beauty of the music - for once a guitar was not mistreated as usually Gajeel was doing!

"Moon river and me..."

On the threshold of the guild hall, someone stood frozen, listening. When Dalila finished to sing, and her fingers caressed one last time the guitar, and everyone closed to her cheered and clapped their hands, the doorknob he was grabbing as if it was the only tangible thing in the whole world, buzzed and change its shape under the acids in the poison that coated his palm.

Feeling more sick than he had in days, Cobra closed the door of the guild behind him and disappeared in the night.


Ouch! This is not getting better, not at all!

But as in the best stories, first they are all 'I cant' stand their face!' and then... they just love the crap out of that face!

Morgana sends you kisses! She has another chapter almost ready for you, just give her a few more days to finish it!

XOXO