Aisha's POV:

It had been a month since I shared that kiss with Mira at the Banquet in Crocus, and since then I don't think there has ever been anyone as happy as me. Being with the guild had been amazing, since arriving back in Magnolia, Mira had invited me to stay at her house with Elfman and Lisanna. I didn't actually have anywhere else to stay, I had taken some jobs since I've been back but that was mostly just to pay Mira for letting me stay with her.

Today was lovely as well, it was a warm summer day outside and I was sitting at the bar in the guild hall. I sat across from Mira as she worked and I was quite content sipping on my orange juice as I did every morning. Macao and Wakaba were sitting a few seats down from me, talking about the state of the guild and the new generation, as they did every day. This happened everyday, and when most people would've gotten bored with it. I didn't have this sort of schedule before, it was exactly what I needed.

I had gotten to know some of the other guild members in the last month, getting to know Max, Warren, Bisca and Alzack. I had really hit it off with the Connells, they were from the west and we could bond over the fact we had emigrated here. They even knew of Hijaara, when Bisca was younger she had even been there. Watching the Connells made me really happy, their relationship with their daughter was adorable. I wonder if I'd ever have a child one day, Mira would make a great mother. I'm not sure if I would, but I can learn. The thought of my brother being an uncle did make me laugh, he could be very brash but he was always there for me and would be for my child as well. My grandfather would probably cry, he was a sweet old man. I don't think he'd love anything more than having a grandchild.

Whilst I was in my fantasy, I felt a tap on the shoulder and saw it was Cana tapping it. She had been much less hostile since the Games and hopefully we could finally become some sort of friends.

"Cana?" I looked at her puzzled, a part of me dreading this. I don't want to put any more stress on Mira. Cana and her were good friends, I just hope that I could be friends like that with Cana.

"Aisha, can we talk somewhere private for a moment?"

"Of course, let me finish my drink." I picked up my glass from in front of me, putting it to my lips and finishing it. Placing it back down and getting off the bar stool and I followed Cana upstairs into the formerly S-Class floor.

Cana sat down on a bench and patted at the seat next to her. I followed her and placed myself down.

"Aisha, before we go any further. There's something I need to say to you." Cana rubbed her neck nervously, looking at me apologetically.

"Of course Cana, what is it?" I raised an eyebrow and looked at her in her eyes.

"When you joined the guild I really didn't have an opinion on you, then when we went on our training mission in the mountains with Mira. After that I knew how powerful you were and that made me extremely suspicious."

I nodded at Cana, I may not have liked her attitude to me before but I did understand where she was coming from.

"You had arrived in this country with nothing but the clothes on your back, and you were one of the strongest mages as soon as you arrived. It was natural that I was suspicious, but I feel like I was unfair with how I treated you. Especially in Crocus when we had that argument, some of the things I said to you were out of order."

"I won't dispute that, but I had a few cheap shots at your expense too. I shouldn't have threatened to kill you." I put a hand out to her, and she held onto it.

"That was wrong but after what I said about your past it was understandable, I hope you know I'm really happy you're here now. I'm also glad you and Mira are together, Mira has always been a ray of sunshine in the guild but now she is positively glowing. You make her really happy, I'm glad you joined Fairy Tail."

"Thank you Cana, it really makes my day to hear that. You've been one of the longest serving members of our generation, you're protective and it's natural. One day we will have to have a good drink together." I smiled at Cana, and she smirked back mischievously. I don't know what I've gotten myself into, but I know for a fact that I won't be able to remember it.

"Oh I'm holding you to that promise, I know you like your wine. But if we're drinking, I'm picking the alcohol."

"Deal, now let's go back downstairs. I'm sure Mira will be happy to hear that we've patched things up."

I let go of Cana's hand and descended the stairs with her, I went back down to the bar and sat down back in my seat and Cana sat down next to me. Before I had the chance to order another drink, Makarov looked at me and nodded.

"Aisha, could we go into my office?"

I closed my eyes and nodded, getting off of my stool again. I could've cried right there, I know what this meant. I was going home.

I followed the master into his office, he sat down at his desk and I closed the door behind me, I locked it. I took the seat in front of the desk, like I had all of those months ago.

"Aisha, you know why I've called you in here don't you?" The master had a stern look on his face, but in his eyes I got a different feeling. He had an unmistakable look of dread.

"I do, it's about the Empire isn't it?" I instinctively played with my nails, I wasn't ready to leave Fairy Tail. When I came back to Magnolia, nothing would be the same. I had just gotten Mira and was the happiest I had ever been, now it was going to end.

"It is my child, the situation has gotten worse. The whispers coming out of the west are much worse than they have been before, it could be war soon. I need you to go to Vistarion and investigate, I need you to gather every piece of information about the Spriggan Twelve and the Emperor himself. Their military strength is one thing, but we know next to nothing about their most powerful wizards. There is also a piece of news I have just received about this too, but this comes from Ishgar." The master looked at me right in my eyes and I leaned forward. I nodded, needing to hear more.

"God Serena, the most powerful mage in Ishgar. He has defected to the Empire and I suspect he has joined the ranks of the Twelve. If he has gone our chances are much worse than they were previously, you know yourself how strong the Empire is and we've lost one of our most valuable assets to them."

"Fuck, the situation is that bad. I don't particularly like the idea of going back, but to win a war we need intelligence and that has always been my strength. I think I'd be able to sneak into the grand palace in Vistarion as a servant, but with Hijaara in the Empire there is always the chance that someone recognises me." I closed my eyes trying to think of the best way to go about this, there were so many different variables to consider. Conversely, there were also a significant amount of ways I could be tortured to death for information.

"I know you don't want to leave her child, especially after you and Mira started dating. It really does make me happy to see you two find each other, the only reason I'm sending you and not someone else is because you're from there. You know how the Empire operates and you have done clandestine work for me before. You're the best person for the job, I absolutely need you there."

"I know, master. I will make my preparations and leave as quickly as possible. I need to say bye to Mira first though, I won't disclose the mission to her but I'll mention I'll be gone for a long time." I closed my eyes, trying to stop myself from crying. Leaving Mira seems like the worst thing I could do right now.

I nodded at the master and stepped up from the seat, I unlocked the door and stepped through it. I walked back out to the bar and sat back down at my seat. Cana was enjoying another barrel of some random drink, and Mira looked at me with her beautiful blue eyes. She knew something was wrong, I cannot hide anything from her.

Mira walked over to me and stood across the bar and looked at me sympathetically. She put out her hands and I took them in mine. I rubbed my thumb across the back of her hand, dreading to give her this news.

"Aisha, is everything ok?"

I sighed and looked into her eyes, I bit my lip trying to keep my emotions in check.

"Mira, I really don't know how to say this. I'll be gone for a while."

Mira leaned over the bar more, I could tell from her eyes that she was shocked.

"What do you mean you'll be gone for a while? Where are you going? What happened in the Master's Office?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat and held onto her hands tightly.

"I am going on a mission for the guild. I cannot tell you anything about the mission, I can't tell you where I'm going and I can't even tell you where I'm going. I'm so sorry Mira, I will be back here with you, I just don't know when it'll be." I couldn't contain my emotions anymore as I felt a few tears well up in my eyes.

"Why can't anyone else go on this mission?! I will talk to the master, it doesn't have to be you." Mira was upset and I could see the tears welling up in her eyes too. I held onto her hands tightly, keeping her from speaking to the master.

"Mira it just has to be me, I can't tell you why but trust me with this. I will be back here, all I can ask you to do is wait for me." A few tears fell from my eyes, I was close to breaking down in front of the whole guild.

Mira looked at me and was feeling the same way as me, we held onto each other's hands for dear life. "I will take that promise. Please come back home to me, Aisha Alyamani."

I stood up from my seat and walked through to the bar and wrapped my arms around her, I pressed my lips to hers. Savouring every single moment, our kiss was needy. She pushed her tongue into my mouth and our tongues wrestled against each other. If it had been somewhere else it might've gone further, but with everything that was going to happen in the future. All I could do was enjoy this brief beautiful moment, for I am going back to Alkatasia. Thank you Mira, for everything. Please forgive me.