Magnolia wasn't the same town, not by a long shot. In Natsu's memory, the streets were adorned with flowers on every light post, there were mature trees on every corner, houses hugged the streets with pies and breads in their windows, and those that did not had wind chimes instead, their high pitched sound both eerie and sweet. Now the light posts were gone, most of them destroyed, meaning that the streets were dark, there were nearly no trees, and thusly no means to carry the scent of baking or the sound of laughing chimes to his ears. There were just broken bits of concrete, piles of destroyed buildings that had been gathered up, ready to be burned or carted away. The main streets had been repaired, but the side roads were still full of fissures, some of them wide enough to swallow children. The last time they were in Magnolia, they hadn't ventured this far into the city proper. Natsu expected the damage around Fairy Tail, but this?
"Holy," Happy said in a voice that was hushed by awe. "It looks like they haven't done anything to clean it up."
Natsu shook his head. "They've done a lot; you can see where they've picked up the rubble." It was just a lot of stuff that had to be moved.
"I guess," Happy agreed.
"The old folks home is this way," Natsu said after a moment. He pushed his body forward; the movement helped keep his thoughts linear.
"You don't want to just go for a walk like Lucy said?" Happy asked.
"Nah. Can you imagine if we caught this guy tonight? Lucy could get her money and she won't have to talk to that douche ever again," Natsu said.
"It seemed like she really wanted to do this job on her own," Happy told him.
"Maybe she'll be mad at first, but she'll thank me for it after," Natsu replied. A little nagging voice in his head said that wasn't true. He brought his hood up over his head and ignored it.
The journey to the west end of Magnolia took twenty solid minutes of fast jogging. It helped burn off some of his restless energy, so Natsu didn't mind. Happy took to the air above and kept an eye out for any guards. There was hardly anyone in the streets. In fact, there was hardly anyone in the town, it was a skeleton of its previous glory, the only people that stayed there were the ones that couldn't afford to leave, the old and the invested, and the ones that swore to rebuild it, carpenters and stone masons.
Approaching Weldon Street, Natsu slowed to a walk and tried to control his heavy breathing. Above the sound of his frantic breaths he heard voices.
Happy came out of the air. "There's something going on up there."
"What?" Natsu asked. The wind blew and carried with it the unmistakable scent of blood.
"I don't know," Happy said. "All I saw was a bunch of guards standing around."
Natsu hurried his pace, curiosity burning. Coming around the side of a huge white stone building, Natsu was momentarily blinded by torchlight. He blinked his eyes clear and saw that torches had been erected in a circle, taking the place of street lamps. Trapped in the wreath of the fire's warm glow was a peculiar scene. As Happy claimed, there was a group of men in guard uniforms standing in a circle. Their talk dropped several levels so Natsu had to strain to hear what was said.
"It looks like an animal attack."
"What kind of animal do you know does this?"
"Dunno, maybe a mountain lion?"
"Don't be stupid. We got the guy in custody, he admitted to doing it."
"Then he must be some kind of beast," said one of the guards. "A monster or something. A—a demon."
Natsu got chills down his spine. He came closer.
"Don't say stuff like that," hissed another guard. "Next thing you know, we'll be inundated with them again."
"Don't be so superstitious."
"Natsu," Happy warned when Natsu ventured too far in. "Someone's going to see you."
Natsu shrugged him off, wanting a closer look. His boots scuffed over the broken cobblestones, sending one shattered rock skipping to the outer circumference of the circle of men. One guard lifted his head and found Natsu in the dark. Panic flitted behind his eyes.
"This is a restricted area. No civilians"
Natsu came closer still with little regard for his safety. "What's happening?"
"Get out of here." The guard stepped towards him. In that moment when he moved Natsu got a brief glimpse at the body behind him. It was a woman, one with blonde hair of the same golden luster as Lucy's and unseeing brown eyes. Her head was tipped in his direction, her mouth gaping, opened to emit a final scream that had come out voiceless. Her throat was a mess, torn wide open. And lower, too. Natsu saw the mass of what could only be her organs. He closed his eyes and looked away, shocked and sick. His stomach churned.
"Did you not just hear me?" the guard demanded.
"What the hell?" Natsu opened his eyes but kept his gaze on the ground, afraid to look up.
"I said get out of here—"
"We can't let him go, Kolder. He's got to come in for questioning," said a new voice.
Natsu's stomach dropped. He lifted his gaze and found two guards standing in front of him. One had his handcuffs out. "What?"
Happy mimicked him.
Another guard appeared, the one that went out with Lucy. He looked at Natsu, holding up his torch. "Hey, you're the one the king was looking for."
"No," Natsu disagreed foolishly, but the damage was already done.
"Do you think I'm an idiot or something?" He was going for his handcuffs as well. "I can't fucking believe you just walked your stupid ass over here—"
A scream pierced the night. Natsu stiffened, so did the guard. The man lifted his communication lacrima. Into its glowing surface he barked, "What's going on?"
A voice drifted out from the other side. "Another victim, Ackles. Just attacked." His voice wavered.
"That can't be right," Ackles said, "I've got the guy in custody-"
"Then he was working with someone, they're fleeing on foot, heading back your way."
"Shit," the man cussed. He threw the lacrima back into the pouch at his hip and growled orders at the men surrounding him. Everyone got motivational, Natsu was forgotten. In the chaos he stood absolutely still and watched while guns and billy clubs came out. Everyone dispersed, some going left, some going right around the old stone building that had withstood Tartarus' attack, until only two people were left behind, a male and female guard to watch the body of the young woman that was killed. Natsu felt his eyes being drawn back to her. She looks just like Lucy. He refused to check. Lucy was back at their motel room, safe. And they don't smell the same. Not that he wanted to smell her, but he couldn't help it, her scent was everywhere. Cherry blossom deodorant, coco lip gloss and blood.
Not wanting to look at her anymore, he turned his focus out into the night, stepping out of the fire's glow and into darkness. The sound of feet sliding over grass and broken glass and bits of gravel was all he could hear at first, then heavy breathing. A yell came to his ears next, making him tense. It was close. Feet pounded.
"Someone is coming," Happy said.
Natsu turned a circle in time to see a scrawny man with stringy grey hair duck out of a small fir stand. He soared over the ground, moving far too fast for his body. He was looking over his shoulder so he didn't see Natsu, not until his foot caught and he started to go down, and by then he was practically on top of the dragon slayer. His eyes went wide, his hands stretched out, gruesomely bloody, and landed on Natsu's sweater.
Natsu grunted, the air forced from his lungs. Caught by surprise he stumbled back to regain his balance. His foot jammed on one of the stray stones and together, he and the running man, tumbled backwards. Natsu hit the ground hard. It was one of the most ungraceful falls he'd ever had. The man on top of him sputtered, spittle flying out of his mouth and hitting Natsu in the cheek, then he scrambled like a spider fighting to get off its back, struggling to disentangle their bodies.
"Natsu!" Happy cried.
The other man's elbow landed in the center of Natsu's chest, his knee in his balls. The dragon slayer choked and wheezed, torn between wanting to cup his dick and whimper and grab the man and beat him until he stopped trying to get away.
He didn't get a chance to decide which way to go. A shot rang out in the night; the grey haired man went completely rigid, then absolutely limp. As soon as his heart stopped, a cold draft tore through the area. When the wind stopped howling, warmness reeking of iron spread over Natsu's sweater. Natsu lay totally limp while he processed what just happened. Someone had been shot on top of him and now he was dead. There was a dead guy bleeding on him.
Grunting, he pushed the man off. He rolled, limper than an under-stuffed rag doll. In his absence, Natsu stared into the face of the guard that did the shooting. It was Ackles. He looked dazed for a moment, like he didn't know who he was, or why he was standing there holding a gun. Then his face cleared. He looked at Natsu.
"Alright?"
Natsu's mouth was dry. He tried to work some saliva onto his tongue.
"Did you get shot, too?" Ackles asked, his voice rising with panic.
"Natsu?" Happy said. His eyes were as wide as saucers. He shambled over like a drunkard.
Natsu found his voice. "I'm fine." His legs felt like jelly, though, unwilling to obey him. He scared up the will to rise.
Ackles stuffed his gun into his holster just as three other guards appeared. "He's dead," Ackles called over his shoulder.
"Fuck," one of the other guards swore.
Ackles stepped forward and nudged the man with the toe of his boot. "Good riddance, I say. What about that girl?"
"As soon as you took off she died," the other guard responded.
Ackles sighed and pointed to Natsu. "Take this one in for questioning."
"Woah," Natsu protested. "I didn't have anything to do with this."
Ackles raised his dark brows. "I think we'll decide that back at the guard house."
"Listen," Natsu said, "I'm not going anywhere."
"Either you come willingly or you come in chains," Ackles said carefully.
Fire licked at Natsu's fingertips with little effort.
Ackles took out both his handcuffs and his billy club.
"Natsu," Happy cautioned. "If you fight you'll get arrested, and if you get arrested Lucy will be mad."
The thought of Lucy's disapproving and disappointed frown made the dragon slayer ease back. His fire fizzled out.
"I'll go tell her what's happened," Happy offered, "So she's not worried."
"Get the cat, too," Ackles said before Natsu could thank him.
"I don't know anything," Happy protested as two guards moved in on him.
"Then you won't mind one bit, will you?" Ackles asked. "Don't worry, boys, once we question you, we'll contact the king and decide your punishment for that stunt you pulled the other day. Should be quick processing you."
Natsu ground his teeth together. Fight, or cooperate? His first instinct was always the same. Fight. Always fight. He knew which method would get him arrested for sure, though. "You're not putting those cuffs on me."
Ackles replaced the cuffs but not his club. "As long as you don't give me a reason to use them, you can walk to the guard house all on your own."
Her sleep was terrible; Lucy flitted in and out of nightmares without much shape, except for the few most damaging. Aquarius slipping away from her, and Natsu, Gray next after she used him to fill a void neither of them could afford to fill, then everyone else until she was absolutely alone. Lived alone. Died alone, miserable and ashamed to be that way.
Her eyes came open abruptly, fear making her heart beat fast. It took her long seconds to place where she was. In the motel room she shared with Natsu and Happy. They came back. Her heart eased.
She blinked her eyes clear. The light in the corner was still on. Lifting her wrist, she checked the time and saw that it was two thirty in the morning. So late. She sat up on the sagging couch and checked the room. It was empty. She looked down the hallway, searching for the light in the washroom next. It wasn't on.
Her stomach wrenched. "Natsu?"
Even before his name finished exiting her mouth she knew he wasn't there, nor had he been all night. He's gone again. Her eyes trekked to the table, half expecting to see a note left behind with her name scrawled across the front. It was barren. Guess you weren't good enough for a note this time.
She shook the startling and depreciative thought clear of her head. He's just… he's still out. That brought on a whole new set of worries. If he was still out, that meant something happened. He was supposed to go for a quick walk. This... It was well, well beyond that.
She pushed back the blankets and dressed in a pair of short shorts Virgo left for her and chose a loose fitting long sleeved sweater. Her keys went on her hip last. They were warm, Loke's in particular, the lion spirit letting her know he was watching. She appreciated the gesture, not entirely thrilled about wandering around Magnolia on her own when it was so dark. You could stay here, she thought, but knew if she did, that self depreciating voice would chew her up and hollow her out.
She locked the door on her way out.
Natsu sat in a new T-shirt that wasn't his and stared at the man that had taken Lucy out on a date. He decided that he hated him. Ackles hadn't said much, but everything he'd bothered saying wasn't worth listening to. It could be too that Natsu had a big problem with being ordered around. He sat there, though, with his mouth closed and Lucy on his mind.
The next room over was connected by a thick metal door, as if the guards expected a military-grade attack. Through it, Natsu could hear Happy being grilled about his involvement first in the defacing of the castle, then in the murders.
"Look, I had nothing to do with that shit tonight. I was just out for a walk, in the wrong place at the right time." Natsu kept his eyes open for as long as he could, staring at Ackles staring at his coffee, because every time he blinked he saw that blonde woman, the one with hair like Lucy's, the one with half of her face missing. His guts felt sick.
Ackles wore a blank expression for so long, Natsu thought he didn't hear. Then he said, "I know."
The dragon slayer sputtered. "If you know, then what the fuck am I doing here?" Every second that went by was a second that he wasn't with Lucy, that Lucy could wake and think he'd taken off again. Stress-caused heartburn was a real thing. He put on a good face.
"We're waiting for the king to return our call," Ackles said.
Natsu rolled his eyes and sat back in his hard metal chair. "This is bullshit."
Ackles shrugged. "That's what you get when you're a deadbeat chump."
Natsu's irritation spiked. "What did you just say to me?"
The door opened, saving Ackles from himself. A guard with red hair came in, carrying a communication lacrima. "Sir."
Ackles took the lacrima and looked into it's glowing face. "Your majesty. We have the criminal known as Natsu Dragneel."
"Very good," the king's voice came. "Let me see him."
Ackles turned the lacrima so Natsu could see the man. He looked older than when he'd seen him just days ago. He also looked furious.
"You burned 'Fairy Tail' into the walls of my castle, Natsu." His thick grey brows were knitted tightly together, his mouth sewn in a deep frown. "The bricks need to be replaced."
Natsu pursed his lips. "Really?" Must have been shitty brick, then. The fire didn't burn for that long. He kept his thoughts to himself, thinking the king wouldn't appreciate them.
"Yes, really. Do you know how much that cost the kingdom?"
Natsu ignored the question and asked, "Did you get my note?"
"Do you think an apology makes up for all of your transgressions?" the king sputtered.
Natsu shrugged. "I was always told 'sorry' goes a long way."
The king's mouth got tighter. "This time sorry isn't good enough."
"Then what?" Natsu asked. "Are you going to throw me in jail, leave me to rot?" He'd been there and he was over the shitty scenery.
The king shook his head. "No, Natsu. I'm binding you by oath."
Natsu screwed up his face. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It means, there is a time soon approaching where the kingdom of Fiore may need you to fight for us. Your fists in battle will be your punishment."
"That's it?" Natsu asked. Ackles gave him a strange look that he ignored.
The king agreed, "That's all."
"And my charges go away?"
"Until you do something else foolhardy."
Natsu rubbed his damp palms over his pants. "I'm in."
The king didn't smile. "Stay near to Magnolia."
The streets were quiet, eerily so. Lucy walked and walked, tension in every step, and looked at every shadowed figure in every shadowed corner she could find, seeking Natsu's signature shock of hair. She went as far as to approach a bundle of clothes tucked beneath a small bridge that spanned a trickling river. Her heart crashed into her ribs while she navigated the rolling river stones. Mud slipped over the edge of her sandals and squelched wetly between her toes. She nearly went down twice and recovered rather clumsily.
At the water's edge finally, Lucy hung back from the pile of clothes, afraid that it was Natsu, afraid that it wasn't. "Natsu?" The bundle shifted. It was a person, then. "Natsu?" Lucy hissed again.
The pile moved, then the blankets peeled back, exposing an old man with gray, dreaded hair. "Eh?"
"Sorry," Lucy muttered and booked it out of there. On the street again she did her best to ignore her feet sliding in her sopping sandals while she surveyed her options. She was just wandering around aimlessly. "Where are you?" Where the hell would he even go? Not to the river, that much was obvious. Frustrated tears snuck up on her. She was crying before she realized it. Annoyed, she swallowed them back and swiped her cheeks.
What else in Magnolia survived the attack, she wondered. Where would Natsu go? She could only think of one place, the bar district. Would he? Maybe.
She smoothed her hair back and walked with purpose towards the Thorn and Thistle. Along the way she passed by a few smoking teenagers, an old woman walking a vicious dog that barked at Lucy like a lunatic and lunged when it was close enough, and a middle aged man with glassy eyes and a pervy smile. He leaned against a barber's shop, a cigarette between his two worm-like lips, Lucy, determined to be thorough, looked into the alley behind him.
"Looking for somethin'?" He was barely comprehensible.
Lucy kept her eyes away from him. She could see the Thorn and Thistle and thusly the guard barracks. She was close. Close enough to feel safe.
"Hey. I'm talking to you here you know?"
Lucy walked faster.
"You got some place to be or something?"
"Yeah, actually," she said shortly, then wondered if talking to him at all was a huge mistake because he gathered his weight beneath his feet and stumbled in her direction.
"Hang on a minute."
"Leave me alone," Lucy said. Her hands were on her keys.
"I just want to talk to you."
It didn't look like he had talking in mind. Lucy stepped quickly. The man followed, his footfalls surprisingly sure now that he had a goal in mind.
"Got lots of guys tryna talk to you or something? You think you're too good to talk to me?"
He sounded so close. Lucy didn't want to look over her shoulder but did. He was right there, closer than he had any right to be. "Fuck off, before I kick your ass." Her voice shook vexingly.
He didn't listen, reaching for her. His clammy fingers brushed over her hair.
Lucy choked on a whine and balled her hand into a fist, adrenaline spiking. She was reeling back to swing when the air to her side lightened and Loke stepped through a gate of his own making. He punched the man so hard he fell flat on his ass, stunned and out cold.
Loke shook out his fist. "Slob." He turned burning hazel eyes on Lucy. He looked furious. "On what fucking planet was this a good idea?"
Lucy breathed shakily. She realized she was crying again. Seriously? She swiped the tears away.
Loke softened and reached for her. "Hey—"
Lucy ducked out of his grasp. "Don't."
He sighed. "Do you want me to help you look?"
"What the fuck is the point? He's gone," Lucy surprised herself by saying.
Loke was quiet.
Lucy wiped her face again, then took a breath to steady herself and held it. "I'm going to tell the guards this creep is here."
"And then?" Loke asked.
Lucy exhaled. "Then I'm going to keep looking." Because even if he did leave, he would have said something.
Loke said, "You shouldn't be on your own. Magnolia isn't the same place it used to be."
Lucy gave him a furtive look, torn. She didn't want anyone to see how shaken she was. On the other hand, she didn't want to be alone. Loke offered her the hand without the bruised and cracked knuckles. She took it, grateful for the support he offered.
"Do you think he left again?" Lucy asked as she let Loke turn her towards the guards' barracks.
Loke blew out a long, noisy breath. "Honestly?"
"I wouldn't ask if I wanted you to lie," she said.
"I didn't think he'd leave the first time, Lucy, so I don't know."
Lucy's heart ached. "What if he's in trouble?"
"It's Natsu," Loke said. "Of course he's in trouble."
Lucy dropped Loke's hand as they approached the barracks so she could knock on the door. The lion spirit stepped back into the shadow and crossed his arms over his chest patiently. A few seconds later, her knock was answered. It was Riley that pulled back the door this time. He looked just as handsome as ever, maybe more so in his full guards' uniform. Lucy was careful to keep her eyes away from his wide shoulders.
"Lucy, this is a surprise," he said before she could get a word in edgewise. He had yet to see Loke. "I'm on duty still, but I'm just finishing up some paperwork. If you wanted to wait…" There was a spark in his eye that Lucy was wary of.
"Actually… I just came to report a man in the street. He tried to grab me."
Riley's face fell. "He did? Are you hurt?"
She shook her head. "I'm fine, but I'm afraid he'll try to do it to someone else. He was pretty drunk. I left him unconscious just there." She pointed not five hundred meters away.
Riley rolled his eyes. "They always are blitzed. Wait here, I'll get another guard to take care of him and I'll walk you back to your motel."
Lucy shook her head, thinking of Natsu. "It's okay—"
"No one should be walking the streets alone at night," he said automatically.
Loke stepped out of the shadows. "She has me with her."
Riley startled back. "And you are?"
"This is one of my spirits, Leo the Lion," Lucy explained.
The man looked over Loke's signature suit with a hint of distain. When he looked back to Lucy, there was some competitiveness in his eye. "Very well. Listen, Lucy, I'm glad you stopped by tonight. I wanted to tell you, I caught that criminal we were looking for on the train."
Lucy's lungs stopped working. "Pardon?" she squeaked.
"The dunce walked straight up to us," he laughed. "Can you believe that?"
No, she could not. "You arrested him? He's sitting in your jail?"
Riley's expression soured. "Well… not quite. It seemed the king had other plans for him."
A small knot loosened in Lucy's chest. "So he's free? When did he leave?"
Riley gave her a surprised and slightly suspicious look. "Why so curious?"
Lucy made herself calm down and shrug nonchalantly. "Just… want to keep my eye on dangerous criminals is all."
"Well, I don't know if you have to worry about a graffiti artist," Riley said.
Lucy put on her best face and pulled out her best acting. "I just don't know if I like the idea of so many criminals wandering around Magnolia. You have to think about this stuff when you're travelling by yourself."
Riley looked to Loke again. "You're right. Are you sure you don't want me to walk you back?"
Lucy smiled and touched his arm, impatient to the last but taking her time with this. "I really appreciate it, but I know you're busy. I'd rather you spend your time catching people that need to be caught." Riley relaxed so Lucy asked, "When did you say that guy left?"
He shrugged. "An hour ago? Two?"
For the hundredth time, Lucy's heart sank. Two hours ago? Two hours ago and he didn't make it back to the motel room. He's gone. He's so far gone and he didn't say a thing.
Stop, stop, stop.
She couldn't completely smother the nagging voice, though. "Thank you, Riley." She started to turn away.
"Lucy?" he asked at her back.
Lucy looked over her shoulder. He leaned against the doorframe, his thick lashed eyes looking shadowed, even in the light of the moon. "What is it?"
"I'd like to invite you to the beach tomorrow. It's my day off."
Lucy chewed on her cheek until it hurt. "I wanted to catch that criminal tomorrow."
He sighed. "You're a hard worker."
Just poor, Lucy thought but didn't say. "Another time?"
He nodded. "My stay here was extended by a couple of weeks. Another time will do."
Wendy Marvel sat on top of an air conditioning unit outside of the hotel room she shared with Erza and swung her feet. Moonlight glazed her black shoes, making them shine, the tights on her legs whooshed each time her calves brushed together.
Cheria Blendy sat at her side, so close that their hips were touching. "I'm glad that you guys are close by," she whispered.
Wendy leaned back and stared up at the moon. It shone bright like a silver coin. "It was nice to see you, but I think we're going to be on the move again."
"Why do you guys wander around so much?" Cheria asked.
Wendy peered through the drapes into the room where Carla still slept. All was quiet inside. "Promise not to say anything?"
Cheria raised her pale brow. "Who am I going to tell?"
Wendy shrugged. "No one, I guess. There are a lot of times Erza's catching up with Crime Sorciere."
"Like, hunting them?" There was a twinge of awe to Cheria's voice.
Wendy shook her head. "She comes back smelling like Jellal's cologne." She blushed.
"Get out," Cheria squawked.
"Shh," Wendy hissed. "She doesn't know that I know."
"Sorry," the girl replied. "Just… Really?"
"She's in love with him, I think," Wendy confided.
"People get weird when they're in love."
"Do you think so?"
Cheria nodded. "They always want to be near the person, their heart hurts, it's all they can think about." She got a faraway look in her eye.
"Sounds kind of nice," Wendy said.
Cheria turned her head and looked at her through her lashes. "Until you're the one pining for someone you can't be near."
Wendy smiled. "I don't know what that's like. Maybe one day."
"You're lucky," Cheria mumbled.
Wendy was about to ask what she meant when she heard the sound of boots crunching over gravel. Her heart leapt into her throat when Erza's smell drifted to her, rosewater and Jellal's musky cologne. She was about to leap off the air conditioner unit and hide, but there was no time. Besides, what was she supposed to do with Cheria?
Erza's head of scarlet hair came around the corner. She had been looking at the ground, a vague and tired and sad look on her face, but she heard Wendy shift and her eyes came up, alertness taking the place of her other emotions. She relaxed immediately when she found Wendy. "Wendy, you scared me."
"Sorry, Erza."
"What are you doing out…" She trailed off, her eyes coming to rest on Cheria. "Cheria. What are you doing here?"
Cheria smiled. "I heard you two were in the area, so I thought I'd pop by and say hello."
Erza nodded, accepting her answer. "It's good to see you again, Cheria. It looks like you're doing well."
"Very," Cheria agreed.
Erza's heart slowly returned to a more reasonable pace. She looked back at Wendy. "Wendy, I planned on telling you in the morning, but seeing as how you're awake… Apparently Fairy Tail is reviving. We leave in the morning."
Wendy's breath came out all at once. "What?"
Erza nodded. "I was surprised, too. It could just be a rumor, but I think it's worth checking out." She smoothed her hands over her dress, a nervous gesture if Wendy had ever seen one. The dragon slayer didn't ask where she got this information from, figuring that was the source of Erza's discomfort.
"Don't stay out here too long," Erza said after a moment of silence. "I want to leave early."
"Yes," Wendy said.
Erza nodded. "Good night, Cheria."
Wendy watched her until she disappeared into the ground-level hotel room and closed the balcony doors. She felt unwelcomed tears press into her eyes and couldn't hide them completely from her best friend.
"What's wrong?" Cheria asked. "I thought you'd be happy that Fairy Tail is reviving, but you look miserable."
Wendy shrugged, trying to put her finger on it. "I don't know… I guess I kind of liked how often we got to come out this way."
Cheria smiled. "Awe, you're going to miss me."
"Of course I will," Wendy said automatically.
"We'll still see each other."
"Not very often."
Cheria held up her hand. "I swear to come see you absolutely every opportunity I get."
Wendy still wasn't sold. "What if we go off on a huge mission and it takes us months?"
"I'll still find you," she promised.
Wendy wasn't so sure.
"Hey." Cheria reached across her middle and grabbed her wrist, forcing Wendy to look at her. "Smile, Wendy. You love Fairy Tail, and now you'll have a home again. There's no reason to look sad."
Wendy tried a smile and got even more watery than before.
Cheria pulled Wendy in for a tight hug. "Don't cry. I'll see you again before you know it."
Wendy clutched her back and buried her face in Cheria's thin shoulder. She smelled like lemon and felt familiar, warm and comforting. Long moments passed in silence. When Cheria finally leaned back she used her thumbs to wipe away Wendy's tears, a complex expression on her face.
Wendy's heart turned. "What is it?"
Cheria wetted her lips then moved in. Her mouth landed on Wendy's in the briefest kiss. The dragon slayer was so startled she just let it happen. Cheria moved away in the next second and hopped off the air conditioner like nothing had happened.
"Good night, Wendy."
Wendy didn't say goodbye; she was too busy touching her burning mouth.
