The mountain arena

Chapter 21

Mira was standing looking at the first master.

"You know first master I can't think of anything that suits you more than that dress. It's just so… you,"

"That's very kind of you to say Mirajane but I don't know if he'll like it. What if he doesn't like it and he says I look to childish!" She was ready to cry again.

"NO NO NO, don't think like that first master. No one would ever say such a thing to a girl on a date. First. You're going on a date, it's exciting," Mavis looked at the barmaid and stood up.

"You're right. I should devise a strategy of what we should do on our date," she sat down again and started pondering.

"Not to interrupt first master, but it's usually the boy who plans the date," She gave Mavis a sincere smile.

"I see. I'm… um I guess I've have never really been on a date before," she said and put her hands on her cheeks laying on a table. Mira gasped.

"Oh my. That makes this even more exciting," Mira clapped.

"When did you say your wonder boy would pick you up?"

"In 15 minutes and 55 seconds," Mira looked at the first master.

"Oh dear master you need to hurry. The park is quite far away, but don't worry it's good for the girl to be a little late," Mavis put her hand to her mouth, gasped and ran out the door.

"I didn't realize I was so nervous I forgot the time. That's never happened before."

"Good luck first master!" Mira yelled after her. Mavis was sincerely thrilled about her first date. She noticed the park up ahead and started running she noticed her date standing and looking around for her. He noticed her and waved. She waved back. Mavis was too busy to look where she was going and tripped. The man cleared the roughly 100 meters between them in less than the time it took her to fall and caught her before she hit the ground.

"Are you alright Mavis?" He asked her.

"Yes I'm fine. Thank you Shen."

Meanwhile back at the guildhall all of the girls were talking about the first master's date.

"I have to say it is quite the exquisite moment for the first master. She must be very excited. However, the question that everyone would like to ask is: who is this mysterious character?" Silver said sitting alongside her fellow female guildmembers.

"I have no idea but it's suspenseful isn't it?" Lucy said looking around.

"Juvia thinks it is Gray-sama. Even the spirits can't stay away from juvia's true love," Juvia said.

"Juvia not everyone is interested in Gray. Mira. Who do you think it is?" Levy asked and everyone looked at the barmaid in anticipation. Mira put a finger to her mouth and looked at the ceiling.

"Hmm… I have to say I have no idea. We know he can't be a member of the guild because that would just be weird if the first master fell in love with one of us. And the only people who are left that can see her are other spirits. So it could be anyone who's passed away really," All the girls let out a sigh of disappointment. Kai walked by the girl circle on the way to the door.

"If it's that big a deal why don't you just ask her who it is," Kai said and continued walking without waiting for a response.

"I'm going to go train if anyone could care to join me!" He yelled into the guildhall. No one answered and Kai let out a sigh.

"The usual huh…" He started walking again.

"I'll join you. Why not right?" I said as he walked past me and soon after the two of us were walking towards the mountain, where I usually trained.

"So Kai who do you think it is?" Kai sighed aloud.

"You know I went out to train to escape that discussion. The answer is I don't know and I don't care," I looked at him and laughed.

"I guess you're not very skilled when it comes to love huh," when I finished that sentence Kai grabbed by the west and smashed me into the ground so hard the street cracked. He stared me into the eyes while still holding me in place.

"You have no idea what you're talking about. I've been through more than you know," He let go of me and stood up looking at the sky while clenching his glove with his other hand. I looked at him and I could see the guilt and sadness in his posture and his look.

"Kai I… I didn't… I'm… I'm sorry, " I stood up and patted him on the back but he pushed my hand away and started walking away. I ran after him. He had brushed it off as if it never happened and was back this old self.

"For something far more important, how strong were those two dragon slayers. From what I heard, you didn't beat a single one of them. Is that true?"

"Yeah! They were insanely strong. I think even Erza or you would have a hard time beating them," I said carefully choosing my words to not offend him or be pummeled.

"That sounds scary. Maybe I'll have to challenge one of them when I die," We laughed. We arrived at the mountain.

"Has it ever bothered you how this place is as good as new every time we come here no matter how much it was destroyed the last time we used it?" Kai lifted an eyebrow.

"Now that you mention it…" We heard someone laughing nearby.

"Wonder who that could be?" Kai said and looked towards the sound.

"Whatever I'll start training," Kai was about to start breaking things.

"NO. Wait let's see who it is before you scare them away," Kai rolled his eyes but went along with it and we climbed up to see who were talking.

"Remember 100 years ago we met on this very spot. You enchanted me from the moment I saw you," it was a boy. A faint giggle could be heard.

"I remember. You were training so hard and when you saw me you started doing even more exhausting things to impress me," it was a girls voice. The man chuckled. Kai and I popped our heads up to see who it was. My eyes widened when I saw that the man was Shen. By his side sat none other than Mavis. They were sitting on a cliff and looking into the distance.

"Yeah that's right. But can you really blame me for trying to impress a beautiful girl like you," Mavis blushed from hearing those words.

"You don't think I look too childish?" Shen looked at her.

"Now why would you ask that? I've never made any indications that you look childish. You're the most amazing girl I've ever met. I'd never think something like that about you," I couldn't help but make an 'aww' sound at Shen's words. What a sweetheart. Kai on the other hand had long since turned and walked away leaving me to observe the two. Mavis looked out across the field of rocks.

"This might not look like much to anyone. But this is our place and I hold it dear to my heart. In fact, after you left for those next hundred years. I cast a magic spell on this place making it so it would always remain the same. No matter what. So when you came back we could enjoy this place one more time," she smiled and leaned over to rest her head on Shen's shoulder. I awed again.

"What are you so happy about?" a voice said from right beside my face. I jumped a little and lost my balance.

"Holy…" I fell down from my hiding spot, rolled down the cliff and landed face first on the ground. I sat up and rubbed. I looked at the person who startled me. I looked and saw Sapphire sitting on the cliff giggling. She climbed down again. She helped me to my feet.

"Tell me Jack why are you spying on the first master? Nevertheless, awing," I must have blushed. I just had a soft spot for couples.

"Me and Kai just came down here to train and then I heard voices and we decided to check it out." Sapphire looked around.

"So tell me then. Where is Kai?"

"He left when he saw them. Do you know what happened to make him like that?" Sapphire shrugged.

"I have no idea. He never told any of us. Not even the master knows what happened. All that I know is that after he became like that he started training all the time," Sapphire looked really worried for our teammate.

"Well I think we should just leave him be on that subject. Tell me why are you here?"

"Well I…" Sapphire was interrupted by someone clearing his throat. The two of us looked up and saw Shen looking down on us and Mavis was standing at his side. Suddenly Shen was standing right in front of me. He grabbed my shoulders. I got ready for the worst.

"Please don't tell anyone about what you saw here. Drake and Zane don't know I'm going out with Mavis. If they hear about it, I'll never hear the end of it and we're dead so I'll literally have to listen to it forever. I will tell them in due time."

"I… I… don't worry Shen your secret is safe with us. Right Sapphire?" Sapphire was just standing there looking at Mavis.

"Hey Sapphire you okay?" She shook her head.

"Yeah I'm fine… um yes your secret is safe with us," Shen let out a relieved sigh.

"Thank you. They just need to find out the right way at the right time. Not by someone else telling them."

"I agree. And I'm so happy that you found someone you want to spend your lif… your afterlife with," Sapphire said smiling at the couple.

"Well. I think that just about wraps up our date. It was nice to see the guild again. I might see one of you at the next S-class trials. Shen it's been nice. I'll see you soon okay," Mavis said and pecked Shen on the cheek making him blush. Mavis disappeared and Shen smiled to himself.

"She just amazing isn't she?" He sighed aloud. He noticed that Sapphire and I were still standing and looking at him. He reentered his serious persona.

"Well I must be going as well. I will see you in about at least 100 years. I hope everything goes well for you and your guild," With that he was gone and I felt a strong gust of wind.

"He sure is fast," I said as the two of us started walking towards Sapphires house. We had been walking in awkward silence for a while until Sapphire decided to break the ice.

"So… were you really that worried about me?" She said in a slightly blushing. I looked at her and smiled.

"Why wouldn't I be? You're my friend. I'm sure everyone was worried about all of you," I said. Sapphire blushed and I smiled. We got to her house and I went to the store to buy some food for dinner. I picked out some items for a salad and some meat of course. When I came back to her house, she was sitting and writing in a diary.

"I'm back!" I shouted into the house and I heard her pack her diary away.

"So what are we having Mr. cook?" She smirked at me.

"I was thinking something like steak with mashed potatoes, you know something simple."

"Uh… I know how to make a killer sauce. Let me help," she didn't really ask permission but rather she stated that she would help me cook. We cooked, made the table and sat down to eat.

"Wow. Mh. This is a really good sauce. You my fair lady are a natural," I said in a British accent pointing at my companion with my fork.

"Why thank you good sir. I must say this steak is very well made as well," she retorted in the same accent. We blinked a couple of times looking at each other and then burst out laughing.

"Jack your British accent is terrible!"

"It's not like yours is any better," We ate up while talking about anything and nothing. When we had finished doing the dishes Sapphire suggested that we should get some sleep.

"But it's not that late," I said shrugging.

"Yeah but you must be tired after what you've been through these past days," I had to admit she had a point. It was exhausting fighting someone you had no chance of beating.

"I guess you have a point, but first…" I took out a bottle of fatigue cream. When I had put it on, I was ready for bed and I went upstairs and got into bed. Sapphire came up shortly after and slipped into the bed next to me. She laid with her back turned.

"Goodnight Jack," I didn't reply but instead I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close earning a yelp from her.

"I missed you Sapphire," I whispered in her ear.

"Why did you miss me?" she whispered back blushing from our close contact. I thought about the time Zane came flying into the arena and Drake followed yelling that Zane had hurt one of the girls.

"Do I need a reason to miss you? But if you must know no human has ever showed compassion or even tried to help me in the slightest until you showed up that day. So when you 'went missing' I missed your happy personality, your stunning voice cheering me on. I missed YOU Sapphire," she awed at my words and wiggled around so that she was facing me and she put her hand on my chest.

"That was so sweet Jack. Thank you."

"No thank you. For being there when I needed someone," I pulled her even closer. She didn't have anything to say so we just laid there enjoying each other's closeness and fell asleep like this.

Friends, family, excitement, care, a home, a purpose. These were some of the many things I had gotten from joining the most amazing guild in the world. Fairy Tail!