Chapter 8: First impressions - part 1

I met Gray during my second week as a member of Fairy Tail.

Misty thought it was best if I adjusted to Magnolia first before going on a quest. By that he meant I had to learn that not every city is like Bordertown.

Because he is the great Mystogan, he couldn't exactly show me around himself. Everywhere he goes he puts people asleep to keep his identity safe. Even back then I thought it was hypocritical of him to tell me I should get to know the people of Magnolia, while he tried everything to avoid doing just that.

So I had to figure it all out by myself. Everyday I would wake up bathing in sweat at Fairy Hills, still shaking from the dream. Although everyone living in Fairy Hills was also part of Fairy Tail, I avoided them as much as possible. Sometimes I do scream in my sleep and I didn't feel like explaining myself to them, if they happened to have heard it.

I didn't go to the guildhall either. But I did want to show Misty and also Makarov that I was trying to adjust, since they'd given me a roof over my head and clothes and food. So I washed, got dressed and went into Magnolia.

Misty had lent me some money to buy food. In order to see as much of Magnolia in the shortest time possible, I had breakfast at a different bistro every morning.

On one particular morning, I went to a cake shop. Grandpa used to bake a cake for my birthday, but the ones I saw in that shop didn't look similar at all. I ordered the one I thought looked the least strange, it was stuffed with apple.

It was calm and pleasant in the shop, which was hard to find in Magnolia. I had taken Grandpa's spellbook with me to study. For about half an hour, I was able to really sink my teeth into a transformation attack spell.

But only for half an hour, because that's when Natsu and Happy came in. Natsu nearly jumped on the counter with his filthy feet and asked that poor baker: 'Do you guys have fish cake?'

I hid behind my book as much as possible, because I'd seen the two of them earlier around the guild and thought they were very annoying.

'Fish cake?' the baker asked genuinely. 'No, I don't think so. I can offer you carrot cake.'

Happy pulled a face as if he was about to puke. 'Carrots? Who puts vegetables in cake?'

The baker twisted the end of his mustache and mumbled something about who on earth would put fish in a cake.

Natsu then asked: 'How much for fish cake?'

'I don't have it,' the baker said flatly.

'Can you make it, pleeeeaaase?' Happy begged. Then he seemed to get an idea. He took his backpack off, turned it upside down. Two dead fish smacked on the counter, smelling awful. 'We'll provide the ingredients!'

The poor baker flinched at the dead fish and it seemed he like didn't know what to say.

'Great, thanks!' Natsu said, patting the man on the shoulder. Then he jumped off the counter and he and Happy sat down at a table. For about forty minutes they were just being loud, and then I'd had enough. I couldn't believe someone could be so loud and rude.

I packed my things, paid for my cake and left in search of a quiet place.

It seemed work for mages was slow at the moment. Everywhere I went I noticed people with the guildmark and each time I saw it I turned around immediately. Even at the library there were two idiots, Jet and Droy, trying to impress this girl Levy while she was working.

But I refused to go back to Fairy Hills before dark. I had to make this life work, because there wasn't any other option.

At last, I felt the best thing for my sanity was to leave the city for a bit. I went into the forest bordering the town, and found what I was looking for. Aside from birds and bugs and squirrels, there wasn't a lot going on. It was perfect.

I sat down against an oak and opened Grandpa's spellbook. I spent the remainder of the day doing nothing else but practicing that one spell. Thinking back to that now, I wonder if I really am the most productive when I'm by myself. How sad.

While focusing on the spell, I hardly noticed the sun was going down. My eyes adjusted to the darkness by themselves, so I continued studying. It wasn't until my stomach rumbled that I looked up and noticed the moon was already out.

It spooked me a little, not because of the darkness (as I could see through it), but I was afraid I wouldn't know the way back. I stood up, holding the spellbook close, and searched for the lights of the city. They would have to lead me back to the guild. Maybe Misty was back from his quest and we could eat together. I did miss seeing a familiar face, even one hidden behind a mask.

Thinking of Misty helped. I went on my way.

For a few minutes, everything was well.

Then I smelled something disturbing. Dead fish was first, so naturally I thought Natsu and Happy were nearing. After the next smell, I wasn't so certain: blood.

I shoved the spellbook into my skirt (I only wore skirts back then) and climbed the nearest tree I could find, pressing myself flat against the trunk. I closed my eyes and waited.

Footsteps, breathing, squeaking of leather. A jacket, or boots maybe.

As sudden as they started, they stopped. I held my breath. They were close.

Thirty seconds passed, nothing happened. I leaned over, daring to look down. Two golden eyes stared back at me.

'Interesting,' the stranger said with a slithery voice. 'Alone at this hour, are we?'

Obviously I didn't answer. I watched him back away from the tree. Not walking away, but preparing to attack. I saw the glimmer of a knife. No further questions, no asking me to hand over my possessions. He just wanted to kill something.

My heart was beating in my ears. I thought of Bordertown, where the people chased me down the streets till I climbed up on the roof of the highest tower and waited for them to go home to their warm beds and sweet families and I was left all alone.

But now I was in a new place, with new rules.

I took a deep breath, and thought of the spell I had been practicing all day. The strange figure leaned back, positioning himself to throw the knife at me. Before he let go of the blade, I shouted the spell at him.

At first, it blew us both backwards. I held on to the tree with one hand as best as I could and with the other pressed the spellbook close to me. As the shock died down, I saw the sleezy figure had now turned into a giant lizard. Its' teeth were only an arms' length away from my foot. And he was very angry.

After the first seconds of confusion had gone, the creature came for me. It jumped and bit into the air, just inches away from me. An image of the claw from my nightmare flashed across my eyes and I screamed.

Then there was a voice. 'Ice make: Prison!'

Before the creature could jump again, there was a light. A second later, bars made of ice trapped him inside a cage, also made of ice.

I let out another scream, more because of the tension of the situation and the relief than anything else. Then I lost my footing. I was too surprised to make another noise. For a second I was weightless.

Then I landed. Not on the ground, but in someone's cold arms.

I blinked. And there he was.

His messy hair perfectly surrounding his naturally grumpy looking face, and his dark eyes seemingly seeing everything I was trying to hide. His shoulders were wide and his arms felt strong and protective.

I'm kidding. That's not how it went.

Instead, I fell on top of him. My behind slammed his face into the dirt. At first I didn't notice there was someone under me. I hurt everywhere. Only when I heard him groan did I move away.

'I…I'm so sorry,' I stuttered, even though it probably was more his fault for standing directly below me.

He pushed himself out of the ground. A mold of his face remained in the grass. He coughed up sand and wiped his eyes clean. Instead of getting mad, he simply asked: 'Are you hurt?'

I was too shocked to answer right away. He was the one who got slammed into the ground, not me, but still he asked about me first.

Then I noticed the guildmark on his chest, as he wasn't wearing a shirt. I felt less bad.