My apologies for the wait but here is the next chapter of Silent Thunder. I know it is very short, and I apologize for that but Ringo's arc is not meant to be anything over dramatic. It's meant to be rather lighthearted. I promise you though, the next chapter won't take as long as this one did.
Silent Thunder
Arc III
Chapter 8: The Garden
As promised, Ringo showed Laxus the garden once breakfast was finished and dishes were clean and drying. After the two had gotten dressed, they made their way to the back of the house, through Ringo's room and onto a deck that wrapped around to one side. The garden was an impressive place, a large maze of hydrangeas which glowed in the morning dew. The ball assorted flowers were blue, purple and pink and reached from the back of the garden to the house, even growing over the fencing and sidings. The hydrangeas were not the only plant in the garden however, Weeping Willows and Wisteria trees dotted the maze with clusters of sunflowers and ivy wrapping around the house. The leaves and grass were a lush green as wildflowers littered the places where other plants didn't reach.
"Grandfather said that he built the house around the garden." Ringo said, stepping into the garden on a small beaten path that had been made. The wind tussled her long hair slightly but she kept warm in her outfit. Due to the cooling weather, Ringo had chosen a dark teal turtleneck with a beige tank dress over top which had a black lining and fur underneath. The dress was short, ending at her thighs but she also wore matching knee length boots of beige colour and fur tuffs. Even with a good amount of her legs exposed, the woman would stay warm.
Laxus followed behind her, wearing black slacks and shoes along with a dark purple button up and his black and gray fur coat draped on his shoulders. He followed Ringo as she made her way through the garden, shifting slightly so that his coat never caught any of the flowers or leaves.
Turning a few times, Ringo stopped when they reached a clearing in the center of the garden. Laxus stopped right behind her and glanced the area over. The clearing held a large Weeping Willow near the edge which outstretched and made a nice cool shaded part. Attached to a branch was an old swing and underneath was a bench as well as what seemed to be a carved stone. Just outside the willow's shadow was a small pond, outlined in rocks and cattails with lily pads and water lilies floating on the water surface. Near the pond was another bench and the rest was open grass with patches of wildflowers scattered about.
Ringo walked over to the water's edge and looked in. A few Koi fish swam without a care and she smiled at them, happy to see that they were still alive. She glanced around quickly for the frogs she knew lived there as well but relaxed when they were not heard. She stood up and turned to Laxus who was staring at the stone under the willow tree.
"It's Grandfather's grave." Ringo said, walking over to him, but keeping her eyes on the stone. "He loved this garden the most and so I thought he would like to be buried here."
Laxus glanced down at before nodding at the grave slightly. He went to bench near the pond and sat down. Ringo followed, sitting down next to him.
"That man this morning was Kalor." Laxus said, more as a statement rather than a question.
"Yes." Ringo said simply. "I told you he would know I was here."
"You went into town." Laxus reminded her.
"We needed food." Ringo defended. Laxus couldn't argue with that. All of the previous food was beyond edible.
"How much is this place worth that he wants you dead?" Laxus asked, gesturing towards the house.
"He said it was worth around two hundred and fifty million jewels or so." Ringo said simply. Laxus just stared at her. "I also have about one hundred million to my name which I inherited from Grandfather. If I die, whoever gets the house gets that too."
"You're a walking money bag, aren't you?" Laxus asked.
"Pretty much." Ringo confirmed.
"How the hell did your grandfather get that money?" he asked.
"Who knows." Ringo smiled. She kicked her legs slightly and stared at the sky. It was an overcast, preventing her from seeing the blue sky that she enjoyed.
Laxus glanced down at the girl with a frown. Despite the circumstances and the fact she was going to accept her death, Ringo didn't seem all that concerned about the problem with Kalor. She seemed almost too calm about it.
"You don't seem too affected by this." Laxus said. Ringo looked up at him, confused. He sighed and pointed to the grave. "That man killed your grandfather and is trying to kill you to get his hands on this house, but you don't seem that angry at him."
"I hate his guts." Ringo said with a placid tone. "I want him to rot and die. But..."
Laxus raised an eyebrow. "But what?"
"Grandfather taught me that the past is in the past and should remain so. Revenge will lead to nothing but despair." she said. "I also refuse to attack people."
"I don't think you're a pacifist." Laxus said, remembering how she never was against him attacking anyone. "What are you?"
"A coward." Ringo said simply. "I'm too scared to fight, but I don't want to give up either. Maybe calling me a hypocrite would be better."
Laxus turned his stare to the cloudy skies. Just a few months ago, Ringo would have been the type of person he belittled. The type that he hated and would have told to disappear. The words Makarov had told him resonated in his head.
"You're just clumsy." Laxus told her, standing up. Ringo looked up at him and smiled.
"I like that." she said. Laxus gave her a small smile when a loud sound caused both of them to turn to the back of the garden.
Smoke rose from the fencing and Ringo immediately jumped to her feet. "The garden." she muttered and ran towards the cause of the smoke, Laxus right behind her. When they arrived, a large rock had crashed through the wooden fencing, tearing up a couple of bushes of hydrangea and knocking down several sunflowers. The petals and smashed flowers littered the ground along with splintering wood. "A rock?" Ringo pushed it with her foot gently, but it didn't budge.
Laxus turned his attention to a distance away where four men stood. One was large, wearing only pants and arm guards. In his arms was another large rock. When the smallest raised his hand, he threw the rock at them. "Get down." Laxus said quickly, grabbing Ringo by the collar and pulling her down as he shot a jolt of electricity at the flying rock. It shattered and Ringo peaked out from behind Laxus.
"It's Kalor." Ringo said, hearing his voice. "The one who threw the rock is a normal person but the other two are mages from what I can hear."
Laxus nodded and helped her stand up. "Can we draw them away from the garden?" she asked him. "I don't want to get it damaged anymore."
"Are you going to fight?" Laxus asked her, unsure if she was willing.
"Unless they piss me off I won't attack with magic." Ringo said. "I typically hate fighting, but in a case like this, it would make me look bad if I didn't."
Laxus patted her head and looked at them. "Let's go." he said.
They walked over to the four men; they didn't move, remaining where they stood since their enemy seemed willing to fight. Now that they were closer, Ringo could clearly tell the different fighters apart. The man who had thrown the rocks was indeed large, bigger than even Laxus in girth. His nose was square and flat, like it had been broken too many times. The man next to him was taller than Kalor but much thinner in size than compared to the first man. He had short black hair and a straight nose. The third was a woman with hair even shorter than the second's and an eye-patch over her left eye. She held a short sword in her hand.
"It seems that you are accepting my proposal to fight over the land?" Kalor asked, staring straight at Ringo.
"Something like this is considered defending." Ringo stated. "This land is lawfully mine and you are illegally trying to take it."
"Then why not call the knights?" Kalor pondered. "Why did you hire a bodyguard instead?"
"I didn't hire a bodyguard." Ringo said. "And the knights can't touch you."
"Are you sure?" Kalor asked. "Isn't it because if the knights knew about your little history they might not want to help you?"
Laxus glanced down at Ringo who bit her lip. "It was an accident." she said.
"An accident that destroyed all the windows in the town." Kalor taunted. "Your little mishap with your magic that day caused the whole town to hate you. The only reason you can even buy food is because you have money."
"Mind filling me in?" Laxus asked. He was going against what he had said the night before, but he felt that he needed to know.
"You said that I don't seem affected by this." Ringo told him. "The truth is, I really am, but I can't show it. Keeping control over my emotions is the way I can control my magic.
"My magic is nothing more than enhancing sounds, especially ones I make with my voice. When Kalor killed Grandfather, I cried. But because I wasn't careful, I lost control and ended up shattering the windows in the town. No one was hurt, but it scared them."
"If knights did come and hear that you did that, they wouldn't defend you." Laxus said, understanding now why the girl put up with the man. "Is that why you don't attack?"
"My magic hurts even friends." Ringo said. "I know the damage it can cause."
"Then let's get this over with." Laxus said, kneeling to the ground and placing his palm to the earth. "I prefer the easy going you over the way you've been acting."
Before Ringo could ask what, a jolt of electricity shot from the ground, attacking the man who had been throwing rocks at them. The other two mages backed away instantly, dragging Kalor along with them.
"That's a dangerous man right there." The black haired man said with a smirk. "I'll have you know, I am quite renowned-"
"I don't care." Laxus said, already behind him and attacked him with a jolt of electricity. Ringo stood where she was and stared.
"It seems like fights with him won't be dramatic." she sighed. "Getting serious a second ago felt like waste."
"Rebecca, finish that man!" Kalor shouted, running towards Ringo.
"Of course, he seems like a ladies man anyway." The woman said. Laxus simply punched her in the face before she could even draw her sword.
"I don't care about gender." Laxus said simply.
Ringo smiled impressed at Laxus's fast work but turned to Kalor. "They didn't last long." she said as the man stopped in front of her.
"You just hired a beast for a bodyguard." Kalor defended. "I'll be back with even stronger mages!"
"He's not my bodyguard." Ringo said again.
"Then what is he, your lover?" Kalor laughed.
"Yes." Ringo said bluntly, placing her hands on her hips. Her cheeks flushed a bit as Kalor's laughter stopped.
Taking this as a chance, Ringo ran towards him and jumped kicked him in the face, sending him flying past Laxus who just avoided the man's body. Laxus didn't even look back at Kalor as he landed on the ground and tumbled. "I thought you didn't attack." he said, walking over to Ringo.
"I don't attack with magic." Ringo corrected. "But I do have a mean kick."
Laxus smirked and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "So I'm your lover?" he asked.
"The term boyfriend doesn't fit you." Ringo said, looking up at him.
"I can agree to that." Laxus said simply.
Kalor sat up, holding his nose which was oozing blood. He stumbled a bit and glared at the two. "I've had it with this investment." he shouted, spitting illegible words at the two mages. "Never expect to see me again."
"Why does he make it sound like I'm supposed to be upset about that?" Ringo asked as the man left.
"I think your kick messed his brain up." Laxus said.
"I hope so." Ringo declared. She glanced up at Laxus and wrapped her arms around his torso, burring her face into his chest. "Thank you." she whispered.
Laxus looked down at her, his eyes softening at the woman's action and moved his arm from her shoulder to her waist, returning the hug his own way. When Ringo felt his arm go around her, she looked up at him and smiled. She nuzzled against him slightly and sighed.
"I really do love you." she said easily. An uneven heartbeat resounded in Laxus's chest and Ringo's smile grew. She knew that he felt the same. "I wonder what time it is."
"A little after noon." Laxus said.
"Do you want lunch?" Ringo asked. Laxus nodded in response and Ringo broke the hug. "We should leave after we eat. The villagers will start making a ruckus."
Laxus glanced towards the village. Even without Ringo's level of hearing, he could hear the sounds of people panicking and gathering weapons. His own lightning attacks maybe have been the cause for that.
Ringo looked at him and smiled again before going back towards her house. She stopped when she saw the damage done to her garden and turned in the direction that Kalor had fled. "Maybe I should have attacked him with magic." she said.
"If you breka windows when your cry, what do you break when you're mad?" Laxus asked, following her through the garden.
"Eardrums." Ringo said simply.
"Refrain from getting mad." Laxus said, not wanting to experience that.
"I do my best." Ringo said, laughing slightly. "Where should we go after this?"
"The rocky part of the desert." Laxus said.
"Why there?" Ringo questioned.
"I'm teaching you how to defend yourself." Laxus said simply.
Ringo stared at him and nodded. "Please do." she said.
I do accept critiques and I would love any helpful tips. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.