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Flitting Dreams

Chapter 5

Mission In The Green

Fortunately, Freed had the mind to mark the paths for me to run or I'll be running blindly. Actually, running blindly was something I usually did around the house whenever I was tired of drawing up on my magical energy. The physical exercise only seemed to be effective after two weeks of it.

I didn't feel as winded as before and the beep of the watch told me that I had actually finished fifty laps before sunset. I hoped I don't have leg muscles after this, it wouldn't be a pleasant sight.

But that wasn't what I was most worried about.

It was the fact that this is just a dream. I'm having doubts. Is it truly a dream? Or is it something real? Everything I touched feels real and the pain and fatigue I felt could not be faked. There's no such dream where there's a 99% rate of realism.

But if this isn't a dream... how on earth did I get here in the first place?

The easiest explanation surfaced: magic. Even Laxus said so.

Wait, Laxus... Freed... guild... no way. Then I'm really in the Fairy Tail world?

No, I—

I tripped and fell.

Too shocked by the sudden revelation, the truth that had been glaring at me from the start, I had not been able to gain my balance in time. Pain flared in my knees and palms, I had scrapped my skin when I had caught myself mid-fall to protect my face from getting injured. Whatever sort of person you are, I'm sure that we share the same opinion that scarring your palms and knees are better than scarring your face.

Still, it was not a pleasant sensation. And it just supports my theory that this is not a dream.

I sighed, the pain was bothering me. I had better get back to Freed's house and get myself treated. I had placed the first-aid kit in a reachable place—the sofa. There's no way I can miss that when I place it there. It's also a good thing I'm not that forgetful, I'd remember stuff easily.

"Hey!" A high-pitched voice cried and I stiffened when I heard footsteps thundering toward me. It wasn't Laxus or Freed, they weren't due until two days later. A shadow fell over me and I turned, squinting to see a dark green blob. Judging from the voice, the person was a girl, probably not much older than me if the stretch of the shadow was anything to judge by. "Are you OK?"

I surmised that she was a nice person just from this sentence alone. "Uh-huh," I responded. "I just can't see to make it back home."

A pause. "You're... shortsighted?"

"I think so."

"Oh, then you can have this!" Abruptly, for the first time since I entered this dream world, my vision cleared.

No words can describe my feeling to be able to see clearly again. I feel as if I had been reborn in a new world. I grinned, looking up at my savior. "Thanks! It's so refreshing -" I faltered. "You?"

The girl's eyes were closed but her eyelids fluttered like she was having trouble keeping them shut. "Do you know me?" She looked odd without her glasses - her trademark glasses that defined her character's look - and speaking with her eyes closed, as if she was blind. "I don't think so. My name's Evergreen, what's yours?"

"I'm Xiao Lei Long."

A beat as Evergreen's eyelids fluttered, I think she would've been blinking if she could open her eyes. "Are you from Sin?" she inquired curiously. "My great-grandpa's from there and his name is as weird as yours."

"...I'm not sure. I don't have parents."

Evergreen gasped. "You poor girl. What're you doing out here then? Where do you live?" Horror fell onto her face as realization - her assumptions - dawned. "No way, you live on the streets?" She was practically screaming now.

"No," I said, trying to placate her. "I live with my friends. Well, Laxus is a friend, I dunno about that stupid Freed though..." I mumbled, trailing off. "Uh, hey, are you sure I can keep this glasses? Don't you need it?"

Evergreen smiled. "No, it's OK. You can keep it, I have more at home. And 'sides, I have my backup glasses here. My dad is an optician, my mom's a dentist." She rolled her eyes. "I'm not gonna be like them, I'm going to be a fairy when I grow up!"

"Why do you keep your eyes close?" I asked, curious.

The expression on her face turned awkward. "Uh, well, I turn people into stone when I look into their eyes so I need my glasses." She was fumbling with her glass case as she spoke, cracking it open and retrieving a pair of thick glasses; once she had managed to make her glasses perched securely on her nose, she opened her eyes, revealing dark brown eyes, friendly and full of warmth. "I think that's a cool fairy ability though."

"You'd make a good mage," I said. "Have you heard of Fairy Tail?"

xxx

I clung onto Laxus' arm as we headed further in deeper into the forest. "I don't like this one bit," I whispered to the fourteen-year-old mage. "Why did I have to come with you again?"

"I can't stand Freed and Evergreen bickering, that's why," grumbled Laxus - he seemed to be in very bad moods these days. I don't know why but I was adamant in making him spill his guts. Even if I have to join him on this stupid, very dangerous and life-threatening decisions. "And you're the only one who listens to me."

"They do, too," I muttered back but I felt a little hurt that he only thought of me as a convenient side-kick who wouldn't question his orders. "What's this mission about again?"

"We just have to exterminate the Wyverns in the area," said Laxus. "No problem and this will be a good chance for you to see how good you are."

From the book Evergreen had lent me, Wyverns were exceedingly dangerous creatures. Not the sort of monsters I'd try my luck against since I'm still a noob.

I adjusted my glasses as it was slipping down my nose. "I don't see - " A roar shook the earth and I sighed. "As usual, I spoke too soon."

Laxus' muscles coiled and I hurriedly released him, knowing that he was about to fight. I watched in awe as Laxus flitted in and out of sight, landing lightning-charged hits on the Wyvern's thick, green hides.

It took me a few moments to realize he was yelling at me. "—ei! Lei! Move! Behind you!"

I barely twisted out of the way, hitting the ground and rolling fro all I was worth from the new Wyvern. I acted and retaliated before my brain could catch up with what's going on. Sometimes, when you don't think and just act, you'll OK. I find that this applies to me because if I think, I'd start weighing the pros and cons and end up wasting time. So charging in ahead - while it sounds recklessly stupid - was the thing for me.

I punched its underbelly like I'd seen Laxus did - it's the only spot not covered by thick, scales so I assume it's their weak point. It is.

I watched in awe as the Wyvern went crashing through a few trees - hey, it's size is something to gawk at - before gaping at my fist. Wow, I couldn't believe it, had I actually defeated it? The Wyvern roared in pain - a continuous howl of agony and misery as it struggled to get up.

"Great job, Lei!" said Laxus and I can't if he's being sarcastic or not when he continued. "Now it's calling for its brethren for help!" He was panting slightly but otherwise, he looked fine - seemed to be in a better mood than before.

I pushed my back against his, hands cackling with electricity that I blasted at the Wyvern charging at me. "No," Laxus interjected. "Fry it - like this - hah!" The Wyvern flying straight at him had been turned to soot.

It won't be such an easy feat for me - it came naturally to him because he had much more experience - but it'd take a lot of concentration to get even half of what he's exuded.

Even though I'm in serious danger, I'm glad he took me out to this mission though. I get to measure myself and if I can't beat these Wyverns, I really don't deserve to be in Fairy Tail as I'm weak.

Gasping, out of breath, bruised and sweaty, I slumped onto the ground. Well, tried to anyway. I ended up landing on a defeated Wyvern's tail. It wasn't poisonous and I don't have to fear it throwing me away because Laxus made sure every Wyvern that came our way were dead. The smart Wyverns had the sense to fly away but Laxus had been particularly spiteful, shooting those that tried to flee.

As it was, I was waiting for him to come back. He had given chase for the last Wyvern. It had been particularly small and I suspect that it was a child. A baby Wyvern, Laxus wasn't seriously considering on killing it, would he?

In the time that I'd known Laxus, which was nearly two years now - if I was really five when he found me - I'd never seen him so vindictive and though he did have a tendency to be mean and stuck-up, he wasn't cruel or evil.

The sound of a branch snapping alerted me of his presence. I didn't move, still tired out. I kept my eyes closed, inhaling the forest scent and the smell of singed meat. "Hey, Laxus, do you think we can eat it? I mean, are Wyverns edible?" The earth rumbled slightly and I opened my eyes, frowning, just as a large shadow cast over me.

I blinked, staring at the creature.

I screamed as - lightning quick - the large hand encased me, picking me off the ground. I yelled. "Let me go!" My arms were pinned to my sides and the Vulcan giggled maniacally as it started to move, back to its nest. No, I thought, dread filling in as I cursed myself, how could I have let my guard down?

I just hope Laxus heard my scream and come running.

As it was... I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate on drawing more magical energy from my Eternano, to exude it from my whole body, hopefully shocking the Vulcan into releasing me.

Seconds ticked by, minutes passed— yet, nothing came. I was starting to panic for real. I renewed my struggles when it became clear magic was out of the question. "Let me down! I don't- " want to go with you was what I wanted to say but I cut myself off, perhaps negotiating my way, or lying and tricking, would be easier than this. "-er, like being carried this way. Can you please put me down?"

Assuming it knew how to speak English. Or understand human language in general.

I didn't have to worry about that because then, a zigzag line of pure lightning darted toward the head of the Vulcan. I landed on a large tuft of moss so I didn't have to worry about breaking bones or getting seriously injured, I just had the breath knocked out of me while Laxus beat up the monster.

"Uh, thanks," I mumbled to him in the awkward pause where he approached me, after beating the shit out of the Vulcan.

"Are you OK?" he asked, his voice kind again, reminding me of the first time we met. Seems like a flitting dream. Then again, this might all just be a dream - as impossible as it is now.

"Yeah, sorry for troubling you."

Laxus sighed heavily, plopping down next to me on the moss. "No, no, I just wanted to vent my anger."

"Want to talk? It helps," I said, knowing that this was my chance to worm out a confession out of him.

Laxus shot me a look that told me he knew exactly what I was doing. "I heard my dad and grandpa arguing," he said. "I think Dad's going to leave the guild."

"...Confront him then," I suggested lamely.

"Dad can't be convinced," Laxus returned shortly, pursing his lips. "And I have to prove myself. I mean," he sighed. "I heard Gramps telling Dad that 'he's nothing if he hadn't been his son whom he taught' —I started thinking - what if I am the same? My fame, the praises directed at me, is it because I'm Makarov Dreyar's grandson? Not for my own efforts? Man, it's confusing and frustrating."

"As someone who does not know your grandpa, I can a 100% say that you're cool and awesome," I offered.

Laxus nodded. "I feel that way around you too, you're so weak and helpless I feel endlessly needed and strong." He patted my head, not noticing my glare - or he's ignoring it. "Thanks for being so weak."

"Oi!"

"I was telling the truth."

"I'm not going to stay weak forever," I insisted after what seemed to be hours of bickering.

Laxus grinned. "Until then, it'd be my job to watch over you, yeah?"

A.N: More of a filler than anything. Next chapter: timeskip.

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