Chapter 8: Some Things Brewing

Carla sat quietly as Wendy chatted merrily with the people at their table; Jet, Droy, Levy, and Mira Jane and Lisanna, who'd come over. Mira was telling a story about one of her third cousins twice removed, Thaddeus, who'd climbed the rainbow. Carla thought this fantasy-type story was useless, but of course she was polite enough to stay quiet during a story-telling.

"...so the squirrel said to him, 'What creature are you?' since all the inhabitants of the Sky World had never seen a human being before. He opened his mouth to answer, but the squirrel suddenly gasped at his bright blonde hair and flashing rainbow-coloured eyes. 'You must be a god!' it cried, and quickly gestured for Thad to follow it. As it led That through a winding path of stones and weeds, they suddenly came to the place where the forest ended. The land here was lush and green, with wispy white and pink clouds floating sleepily here and there..."

Levy let out a content sigh. "Oh, if only I could go there one day. It sounds like such a nice place!"

"Yeah," agreed Lisanna, nodding. "And the animals could speak, too! How neat is that?"

"It's not neat, it'd be awesome!" said Wendy, her eyes gleaming. Carla sniffed.

"Some of us already can speak. Although I wouldn't call us cheap animals," she added snootily.

"Yes, of course we know that, but I'm sure you can understand that Exceeds are still animals," Droy explained. Carla was miffed.

"Hmph! How dare he," she mumbled moodily. Droy, as sensitive as always (especially in the face of Levy), was instantly sorry.

"I didn't mean it that way, Carla..." he started to get up from his seat. Jet rolled his eyes and pulled Droy back down.

"Just go on with the story," Levy put in quickly, sensing growing tensity. Mira nodded and opened her mouth. "After a moment of breathing in the cool, sweet air..."

Carla tuned out the rest and instead drowned herself in her thoughts. Happy... what are you doing right now? Do you know how I am feeling? Why do I feel this way?

I remember when I first met all of you. We were on that quest to find and defeat Nirvana. I accompanied Wendy to the meeting place, and saw the Fairy Tail representatives, including you.

Your face seemed to light up when you noticed me. I'm sorry that I was so proud. Why did I act that way? In Edolas, you saved me and protected me. You always offered me fish. You tried to encourage me when I looked down. And I always pushed you away.

I'm sorry. I hope you are alright.

~ o ~

The man sighed inwardly as he scanned over the partly puzzled, partly bored party of four, excluding the (also bored) cat. Blue fur - what's with that? he thought, straining not to laugh.

"So basically," he explained. "I think I lost it in my home."

"That's so simple," yawned the pink-haired one, stretching his arms. The man winced as his hand knocked over a cup and spilled droplets of grapefruit juice onto the table. "Just get in your house, look around, and..." He waved his arms in little circles. "ta-da! Job done."

"Yeh, not really worth that much money," observed the dark-haired, cold-eyed, unfriendly one. The man scowled. They're smarter than I thought, especially the stripper. I'll have to watch out for him, even if I'm the undefeatable-

"Are you sure that huge sum wasn't a typo?" said the familiar blonde innocently. Lucy Heartfilia, wasn't it? Right.

"No, it wasn't a mistake. Ah... you see this is a very precious ring of mine, and I must find it!" the man broke in quickly before any more could be said. "There's no problem with treasuring a late relative's gifts, is there?"

Erza nodded slowly and calmly. The man quickly searched for any doubt in her eyes, but they were clear and hard, impossible to detect. "Fine. Bring us to your mansion and we'll get the job done."

He nodded, relieved, and pushed his way out of the booth after the rising four mages. His plan would work, perfectly. All he needed to do now was to spring the trap.

Heh... I sure am a clever one, aren't I? After all, I'm the invincible Bora of Prominence...

~ o ~

Levy walked down the dusty Main Street of Magnolia toward the town library. As she listened to the clip, clop of her sandals on stone beneath her, a voice suddenly called out.

"Levy!" She whisked around. Was it that Bora guy, trying to trick her again? No. There was Jet, with his bright orange hair and familiar hat and fur-rimmed cloak.

"Hey, Jet!" she answered happily, stopping so that he could catch up. Jet looked serious and his eyes were solemn.

"Uh... is something wrong?" Levy asked slowly. She didn't feel comfort in Jet's unsettled gaze.

"About what you said today," he burst out, then caught himself and immediately shifted his head away. Levy was worried. What could be wrong? Why is he so distant?

"I..."

"You...?"

"I don't get it!" Jet exclaimed, placing his gaze back on hers. His eyes were full of worry, and was that fear? Yes. It was definitely fear. Levy shuddered.

Levy forced herself to laugh. "I think it's me who's the one who doesn't get it." Jet didn't return her cheery mood.

"I thought I was your friend! Why did you turn on me like that? On us like that. Yet Droy seems so cool with it. Why can't I act like that? To be happy for you, to willingly give you space, I-" He stopped there, embarrassed. His cheeks were flushed red and he'd practically thrust off his cloak in his frustration. Levy blinked, and suddenly her mind was filled with memories...

*FLASHBACK*

She walked down the street, clutching her teddy bear and her favourite book. The air was still and quiet. She was lost in the abandoned street, with nowhere to go, no one to comfort her. Suddenly, a soft noise interrupted the still air. She stopped. It came from an alley to her left. Automatically, her feet moved on their own, travelling down the dark, musty tunnel. The sobs grew, and she soon came to the cause. She pushed away a few cracked carts and peeked behind them. A dark-haired boy hunched over his knees, rapidly wiping at his eyes. She coughed. He looked up.

"Who are you?" he whispered, blinking back tears. She paused.

"I'm Levy. How about you?" Levy asked.

"I... I'm Droy."

"Why are you crying?"

"Because - I don't have a home or friends or anything!" he said, and started crying again.

"N-niether do I. You want to be friends?" she said suddenly. Droy stopped crying, surprised.

"Yeah! We can work together," he said, his eyes brightening with hope. Levy grinned.

"Can I, too?" said a small voice. Levy and Droy paused and looked around, bewildered. Then they spotted him.

He had orange hair, growing in dirty tufts. Shaggy clothes was all he wore. His eyes reminded Levy of a frightened animal, and instantly melted her heart.

"Of course!" she said, delighted. "Three is best, isn't it?"

"You really think so?" the boy said.

"Sure we do!" Droy nodded. "What's your name?"

"...Can you call me Jet? I don't like my real name. It's too confusing and long."

"Jet it is, then," Levy said. Droy suddenly came up with an idea.

"Let's make a team!"

"Yeah! We could call us Shadowgear, since we met in this shadowy alley," suggested Levy.

"Okay!" the boys said. Levy noticed that Jet had lost his animal look and had tears in his eyes.

"I'm so happy," he whispered.

"Don't worry, Jet. We'll always be together," Levy promised.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

"Oh Jet," Levy whispered, suddenly understanding. "I promised we'd always be together, right? I'm not about to dump you guys. And there's nothing wrong with feeling sad. It's natural when anyone is trying to let go, right?"

Jet nodded, and the hard, cold glaze melted from his eyes. He smiled.

"Thanks, Levy." Levy returned the smile.

"Come on, let's go find Droy and do a team job, okay?"

"Yeah!" Jet pumped his fist in the air and bolted down the street.

"Hey! Wait for me!" Levy puffed after him.