The sun was shining high in the sky and the town of Magnolia was blooming with life as people walked down it's street, children playing and laughing, and everyone smiling and enjoying the day. All except for a small 6 year old girl, who was standing in the shade of an ally across the street from a loud and rambunctious building. She had been stood there for about 10 minutes, just watching how everybody in the building across the street acted.
A small old man across the street had spotted the girl who stood there the moment she had arrived. When she hadn't moved from the ally he slowly started to make his way over to her, keeping in her peripherals so she wouldn't just bolt on his approach.
''It is quite a sight isn't it?'' he asked in a friendly voice. He couldn't help the small chuckle that came out as he watched her jump at his voice. she had been so absorbed in watching everyone she had failed to notice him. He took a few moment to look over the child stood to the side of him. She was small, skinny and very dirty, her skin was very pale almost sickly, her feet were bare and obviously covered in mud and what looked like blood, probably from walking around for a time bare footed. Her hands were clutching at the edges of a tattered, ruined and dirty white dress that hung limply over her form. But he could not see her face from the dark forest green hooded cloak she wore. He only guessed it was a girl in front of him due to the silver looking locks of hair that hung limp over her collar bone jutting out from under the hood. Overall she looked unkempt and dirty, like a child living on the streets.
''It's beautiful'' a small and very quiet voice spoke, pulling the old man from his observations. After he had registered what was spoken he could not contain his laughter.
''well that's the first time I have ever heard someone call it that, Please, tell me child what makes the sight in front of you so beautiful, and not like others who see it as too loud and annoying''
'' Simple, the smiles''
That caught the mans attention as he turned to her.
''Their smiles?''
''Yes, the smiles. They look happy. I like the sound they make with each other, erm, laughing I think. It sounds like happiness, and family.''
The man stared at the child in front of him, this child spoke like she had never laughed before or heard laughter. it shocked him to the core how lonely this child seemed.
''You could join them, if you would like''
The little girl whirled to face the man quickly
''Really? Would that be allowed?'' her voice wary and rang with hesitation
''Yes child, why wouldn't it? They are a wizard guild, Called Fairy Tail, everyone there is nakama and if you would like you could join that nakama.''
The old mans heart broke when she asked him that, what sort of person would make a child ask for permission? What had this child gone through that would make her so wary.
She looked at the man shaking slightly and she lifted her trembling hands towards the edges of her cloak, wrapping it around her body.
''what's a guild, and what's nakama mister?''
''A guild is a group of mages all under one name, After a certain age you get your guild stamp and become an active mage, each active mage takes jobs and requests from other people and help them with certain problems, Fairy Tale happens to be the best by the way. And Nakama means friend, in Fairy Tale we are a family, all ages and magic reside at Fairy Tale. Like I said you could become part of that if you would like, and when you get older you can get your guild mark stamped somewhere. every guild has one that all members get. Its like a symbol that can identify a person to their guild. ''
After explaining the basics the old man waited for her response hoping the child would take the chance of a better life and childhood that he was offering her, and his heart broke at the sound of her sniffling.
''What's wrong, why are you crying?''
''I can't talk to them, or have a... a... a nakama.'' her response was quiet and quivered on the word nakama and the old man's heart clenched.
Here was a poor child, who honestly thought she couldn't have a friend. What had this child gone through. He had to do something, she was only a child for Mavis's sakes.
''Now why do you say that dear?''
With trembling hands he watched her grip the edges of her cloak, her knuckles turning a horrid white with how tight she was gripping it.
''Because I already have one of them stamp things.'' her tears were dripping onto the dirty floor as her head bowed,
''Thank-you though sir''
As she lifted her head again, she allowed her hood to fall from her head. The old man could not stop the gasp of shock that left him as his black eyes stared into wet and teary blue and golden eyes. She pulled the edge of her cloak away from her and exposed the left side of her neck to show a grizzly scar that was jagged and red.
''I am already owned''
He stared at the scar. This mark was an open mouthed set of teeth with sharp incisors on the top and bottom, and a small cross of a sword and gun, this unique mark was belonging to a horrid dark guild called the Chimera Hunters. How this child came into their possession he did not know, but he knew he had to get the child away from them but he could not just take her, that would be illegal and he had enough problems with the magic council as it was. No she had to want to join and come of her own choice, all he could do was show her the path and hope she was brave enough to take it.
''You are not owned child, What ever they do or say to you, they are wrong. The people who hold that mark are horrid evil people who walk a dark path. You are free to make your own choices, if you want a nakama you just have to make one. Come with me and let me show you what a true nakama is. After all, I would like to call you my friend.''
He held his hand out to the child in front of him, a friendly smile on his face and his eyes shining in warmth and friendliness, heart chlenching with antisipation and hope as the child started to slowly lift her hand into his.
''TALA!'' A loud and angry voice rang viciously through the air making the girl jump and harshly retract her hand and pull her hood back over her head and take a few steps away from the friendly man in front of her
''I have to go, that is my master calling.''
Her voice spoke as she hastily turned away and as she was about to make a sharp dash away from him, the old mans voice ran after her with words she would hold close to her heart for many years.
''My name is Makarov and if you ever find yourself free to fly child fly to the fairies, we will always welcome you. Remember, you are NOT a number, NOT owned, You are free and you can always find nakama here.''
The strange sad eyes that saw what others normally do not, that were two different colours, on a small child had never left Makarov's mind but admittedly it had been a few years since he remembered them ran through his mind the moment Gray had mentioned the strangers gold and blue eyes. Could it really be her? Did she finally choose?
''My boy, that girl, if it is who I believe then she has had a very hard past and things are about to get complicated soon enough, for now we must wait until she wakes for any answers. For now our new friend will remain and get healed. I ask that you wait until later for any more answers''
''Of course master, but please let me know the minute she is awake'' Gray replied, he was restless and wanted to move after sitting telling the events of earlier from the past hour.
''Immediately, now go and talk with your friends I know are waiting for you at the bar.''
Gray stood up and stretched as he walked towards the door,
''Oh yeah, Gramps?''
He looked over his shoulder and watched as Makarov raised his eyebrow in response to him,glad he had the masters attention he turned towards the door and as he opened it to walk out,
''They called her Tala. And I am going to hunt that sick fuck down for what he has done to her'' he growled out and he left, slamming the office door behind him making his way downstairs into the main guild hall.
Makarov's eyes widened in show and he jumped to his feet and almost sprinted to the infirmary.
I can't believe it, She finally flew back to the fairies!