CHANGE ALERT (only applies to alerters): I'm getting rid of her demophobia (fear of crowds) and downgrading it to something more like paranoia. I know it seems like I'm trying to make the character perfect, it's just that it'll mess with some of the stuff that'll happen later on. She'll still have the tick about being approached from behind though and I swear she will not be a mary-sue!
A/N: In this chapter, Shae's age skips from 11 to 15, I hope that will help clear some things up.
Review and leave me any suggestions on ways to improve.
I step off the train onto a platform. It's just like all the others; massive, clean, and crowded. Just my luck that the crowd is extra large this particular day.
I hate crowds. You never know who or what could be lurking in them, hiding among all the normal people, blending in and looking harmless while stalking its prey. Just the thought of all the evil wizards, serial killers and rapists that could be walking around me right now, brushing their arm against mine is enough to send chills down my spine. I shake my head slightly to clear it and rush off the platform, trying my best not to trample anyone.
Once I'm out of the crowd I feel myself relax somewhat. Complete relaxation is a rarity for me; the only time I ever achieve it is when I'm asleep, but even then I wake up at the slightest noise. God... I suppose I may be a bit paranoid. Just a bit.
It's been just over a week since I spoke to that Macao guy. I bet he's forgotten about me by now. I might just be wasting my time coming here, but it's not like I have anything else to do. Maybe seeing the place will get it off my mind once and for all.
The town's really nice. I walk around a bit to get my bearings. There are so many magic shops I stop trying to count them all. This place must flourish from trade with wizards, it's clear everywhere I look. I'm really tempted to check some of them out, but I can't forget why I'm here. I'll come back after I've taken a peek at the Guild Hall and spend what little money I can afford if I think it's worth it.
I only have to ask one person about Fairy Tail and they point it out like it's nothing. This guild seems to be respected here to a certain degree. I thank the person and head in the direction they show me. I find the guild on the southern coast of the city.
This is it. My heart is pounding hard, harder than on the platform, as I edge the door open. I brace myself for what I may see.
Whatever I was expecting, it isn't what I find. It's true that Macao had said there are tons of kids my age but I thought he was exaggerating to try to make me feel better about joining. He wasn't.
I step inside and the door shuts behind me. There are people everywhere. Too many people. I can't stand being in crowds for over five minutes, I just can't. How did I fool myself into thinking I could handle being in a guild? Sure, they're all guild wizards so the assumption is that they're all good people, but just like there are decent people in Dark Guilds, I know this from experience, there can be bad people in Light Guilds.
I shake my head, this was a stupid idea. I turn around and reach for the doorknob. Before I have a chance to grab it I hear someone call out to me.
"Hey!" the voice says, " I was beginning to worry you wouldn't show." I look back and see Macao getting up from his seat from beside some guy smoking a pipe. He's heading toward me.
A frown tugs on my lips. "I... just wanted to see the place before I made my final decision," I inform him.
"And what would that be?"
"The same as before. I'm not-" A crash and shout cut me off.
"You punch like a girl!" One voice is yelling. Two boys are gripping each other and glaring. The one with black hair throws another punch that hits the other straight in the face. The guy who was hit just shrugs it off and throws a punch of his own. I notice the big Guild symbols on them and blink. These rowdy kids are members?
Macao follows my gaze and sighs, "I see they're at it again."
"Again?" I question. This kind of thing can't be normal, can it?
"Yeah. Those two can barely meet without getting into a fight," He says it so calmly. It's odd. "But it should be broken up soon enough."
I nod to acknowledge I heard him. The strangest part about this whole thing would be how most people are just ignoring what's going on. This is definitely not what I expected a Light Guild to be like. In a way, these boys are kind of entertaining. A small smile sneaks its way onto face and I'm almost tempted to smack it away. I don't want to give Macao any ideas.
Just as Macao had said, a girl with bright red hair soon walks in and grabs the two of them by the scruff of their neck. She lectures them and then throws them to different corners of the guild. They get back up and glare at each other but comply and stay put. It's good to see that there isn't any sexism going on, at least Fairy Tail has that going for it.
"I've got an idea," Macao says out of the blue. I look up at him. "Why don't you try staying here for a day? You can take a mission and everything. See what being in the guild's like and if you don't like it you can leave since you won't be an official member. What do you think?"
I think hard about it and don't see a huge down side. I nod.
"Perfect! Now let me introduce you to Guildmaster Makarov." He sets off toward the back of building where what looks like a bar is located.
As I follow him I realize that I've never told him my name. Not that it really seems to bother him, but he may as well know. "My- my name is Shae."
Macao looks back at me and smiles, "Nice to meet you."
"Hey, Shae!" someone calls, snapping me out of my thoughts. I was thinking about how I first came to Fairy Tail; it's already been 4 years since then! Those years passed by so quickly and yet I don't regret a minute of it. The happiest times of my life have been in this crazy guild and I wouldn't change it for the world.
"Shae!" the voice calls out again. A tilt of my head reveals Natsu looking up at me. He grins. "Come on! We've got a mission to do and I'm starving!"
"I don't think my wallet can handle your appetite," I answer as I jump down from my favorite spot high up in a tree.
"That's what the mission's for!" states Happy well... happily. "We clean out your wallet now, and then pay you back after we get the reward."
My only response is to stick my hand out for the poster. Natsu complies. The job sounds easy enough; all we have to do is hunt down some wild beasts that have been killing the town's livestock. The pay is decent too, 10 000 Jewels for a quick extermination.
"Looks like the train stops pretty close to the town," I say while I try to figure out how long it would take us to get there. Mental math may not be my strong point, but I'm better at it than my partner. Though that isn't saying much; Natsu is not usually the academic type.
After I mention taking the train Natsu gets a disgusted look on his face. "Let's run there!" he suggests.
"No way." I've been his partner for years now so this argument is a regular occurrence. Of course, if I got as sick as he does on transit I'd probbly be as unwilling as he is. "It'll take an hour by train but by walking it'll take half a day. Once again, no way."
"I said we could run-"
"No." I fold up the poster and tuck it away into my Capri's pocket. "Come on, the next train leaves in 15 minutes."
He grumbles and but follows behind me anyway.
On the train my only real company is Happy. Natsu is way too busy puking up my hard-earned cash to put up much of a conversation. I feel sorry for him, but it's not like I can do anything.
"This is simple right?" Happy questions. "We'll be done by tomorrow afternoon?"
"Seems like it," I say, "but I can't be sure." I read over the request again. "Some overgrown animals have been terrorizing the villagers and stealing our crops. Our town's income relies solely on our famous strawberries so everyone suffers if we have nothing to sell at the monthly harvest. Please come quickly, we've already lost over a third of the crops!"
"Killing beasts is what we do best!" he exclaims, "this should be a piece of cake."
"Yeah," I reply as I turn to look out the window, "let's hope so."
We sit without talking for several minutes. Happy loses interest in watching his friend empty his stomach contents so he reverts to lounging around the compartment. The landscape flying by is enough to hold my attention. Mountains dissolve into hills and then into grassland. Out of grasslands spring up trees, then flat plains and that's all I see for the rest of the ride.
When the train halts I let Natsu put his arm around my shoulders and help him out. "I still don't understand how you can get so sick from such a smooth ride," I tell him.
Since we're off the train he regains himself and stops leaning on me. "Well, I don't get how come you don't. Those things are a death trap!" I shake my head in an amused manner and drop the subject.
"So how much farther is it?" Happy asks, munching on a small raw fish that he took out of his pack.
"10 minute walk from here I believe."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Natsu demands. He doesn't look back and sprints off toward the town.
"Wait! Natsu!" The cat calls after him, but he's either ignoring him or is too far away to hear. I urge Happy on and we run after him. Well, I run and Happy flies.
Sprinting there only takes about two minutes. As I see the gate loom closer I slow my pace. The gate is... different; it's made of green bricks with a design of intertwined strawberries and vines. The town itself is definitely memorable as well. There are giant red strawberries everywhere- on the rooftops, beside every stand and home, there isn't a place without some kind of strawberry decoration. Not the mention that the town is painted different shades of red and green, as if it was made up to resemble strawberries. I'm starting to get turned off the red berries...
"Do you think they're eatable?" Happy questions while inspecting a strawberry about his size next to a potted plant.
"I wouldn't try eating it if I were you," I reply.
He backs away from it and gazes off in a new direction. "Tell that to Natsu."
I'm about to retort that even Natsu can't be that stupid, but I stop myself when I see the pink haired boy trying to lick somebody's house. I sigh and shake my head.
Pushing him out of my thoughts I go back to searching for what could be the mayor's residence. I quickly give up. There's no way I can tell the difference between the buildings. They all have the exact same colors and design.
"There's something strange," Natsu says as he joins me in the town's square where we're surrounded by the fake berries. "How come we haven't seen a single person yet?" Now that he had brought it up I find myself wondering the same thing. When we first entered I was too preoccupied with the weird designs and layout that I had failed to notice the lack of people.
He sniffs the air but shakes his head. "All I can smell is strawberries." He takes in a deep breath and exhales while a grin spreads across his face. "But they sure smell good!"
"I'm glad you think so sonny," a raspy voice from behind us says. We both whirl around. My stance shifts into a battle ready position without me even thinking about it. My automatic response to someone coming up from behind me is to be prepared to fight.
The voice belongs to an old man who's taller than Natsu, Happy and me combined. He has his hands behind his back and a smile on his face. "There is no need for that stance child."
I bite my lower lip out of embarrassment and relax my posture a bit. Everyone in Fairy Tail has learned to approach me from the side in case I lash out. I can't help my actions- it's a habit I picked up while I was by myself but getting it under control would be nice. I have improved though, I used to automatically attack and now I just get ready to attack- it's a major improvement if you ask me, or the people I've kicked back at the guild.
The elder smiles at me and continues, "I am the mayor of this village and I would like to know what purpose you have in coming here."
Happy flies up to join the conversation, "We're here to help with your infestation. We're from Fairy tail!" He turns around to show his guild mark. Natsu and I follow suite. He points the mark on his right shoulder. I pull on the right sleeve of my shirt to make the black mark on my right arm visible.
When he sees our marks the old man's face lights up. "You've finally arrived! Thank the gods!" He looks around before taking out a green whistle and blowing into it. "It's OK! They're here to help!"
The second he had finished talking doors burst open. It seems like everyone had hidden inside their homes when they spotted us approaching, but now that their leader had giving the OK they swarmed around us cheering and applauding forming a crowd.
Great... that's just great...