Chapter 33:

Sunlight softly filtered into the airy studio apartment in Hargeon. Abi lay in her bed, slowly waking up. The blonde woman sighed and stretched her arms overhead, feeling her muscles pull and stretch in the morning. Something felt…different this morning. Nice. Abi slowly cracked her eyes open and let out a small yawn, gazing up at the tall rafters. The summer morning air still held the promise of a sweltering day. Hargeon's hot spell had yet to break. But there was a gentle breeze that drifted across Abi's skin, bringing with it the delicious smell of coffee in the morning. The woman rolled her neck slowly and sighed again in contentment. My comfy bed, my beautiful apartment, my Laxus…

Wait a minute.

Abi's eyes shot wide open. She unsheathed a short, jagged knife out from under her pillow and scrambled upward, launching the blade at the intruder in one, rotating motion. The blade sliced through the air. A large, muscle-bound man leaned on the wooden island in her kitchen, raising a coffee cup to his lips. The knife collided with the cup, knocked it from his grasp, and embedded itself in the kitchen wall. The glass shattered on the ground a few feet away from Laxus.

Abi's heart raced and her power pulsed through her palm. Hot magic pricked at her fingertips and spread outward, encasing her hand in a white glow.

"You!" She snarled.

He studied his empty hand for a moment, processing the sudden loss of his beverage. Then, the blonde man turned his head and let out a small, mournful sigh at the broken coffee cup. He wore a black t-shirt tucked into a pair of dark-washed jeans. His short, unruly blonde hair was sinfully tussled and stuck in different directions, save for an unruly lock that fell just short of the jagged scar on his left side. Relief pulsed through her momentarily at the realization of his identity. However, it was quickly replaced with confusion and outrage.

"What the FUCK are you doing here?!"

Laxus Dreyer was drinking coffee in Abi's kitchen. Laxus Dreyer. In Abi's kitchen. Drinking coffee. The world didn't quite make sense.

The Dragon Slayer clicked his tongue slightly, clearly more concerned at the spilled drink. "That's a waste," He shook his head at the mess on the hardwood floor.

Abi saw red and loosed a bolt of magic energy towards him. Her bolt of power exploded into his shoulder and singed the fabric slightly. Laxus turned his head and regarded Abi impassively. He brushed at the sizzling fabric with the back of his hand.

The Dragon Slayer was not threatened by the sight of the sleepy, distressed woman snarling at him while she clutched the bedsheets to her chest. He raised a brow as Abi's hand glowed even brighter with her power, threatening another charge.

"About time you're up. Thought we'd have to reschedule."

Abi's blue eyes couldn't get much wider. Her brow furrowed slightly as outrage and confusion played upon her features.

"Reschedule…? How-what-," Abi's mind reeled. Was she dreaming? The Praesidio clutched at her sheets and pajamas, her fingers gripping the soft, pale pink pajama top, and then she looked down to double-check she was wearing clothes. The Praesidio jerked her head back up and growled at him. "What the hell are you doing in my apartment!?"

The Dragon Slayer frowned at her and straightened to standing. "Well, I was drinking some coffee."

Abi felt her face heat up and she felt her power ripple with anger. She spoke between clenched teeth, "I mean why are you here? And how did you get in?!"

Laxus cocked his head to the side, allowing his amusement to show through a corner of his mouth. The broad-shouldered man was clearly enjoying himself. He stepped over the mess and walked toward her kitchen cabinet. He pulled out another medium-sized coffee mug. The cup looked small in his large hands. Laxus set it down on the island. "I've picked up a few tricks."

Abi glowered at him. She wanted to laser beam him with her eyes. "Those are top-rate wards. There's no way you should've been able to get in here without me knowing."

The Dragon Slayer nodded in agreement as he picked up the coffee pot. "Yeah, they took almost an hour to alter. Pretty solid work." The Dragon Slayer dipped the nose of the pot and began pouring the rich, aromatic liquid into the cup. The smell made Abi's mouth water.

Laxus focused on his task at hand as he spoke. "I could've just smashed them, but I figured it would've given you a massive headache. I didn't want to listen to you complainin' for the entire day."

He remained so casual as if this were a normal morning interaction between the two of them. As if he hadn't quietly altered world-class wards, broken into Abi's apartment, and made himself at home. Abi closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. Telling the Dragon Slayer he was already giving her a massive headache would only boost his ego. The thief counted to ten in her mind; it only helped somewhat. She pinched the bridge of her tanned nose.

The ward at Laxus's apartment was incredibly complex. The pieces clicked together: "One of your friends specializes in script magic, don't they?"

Laxus's grey eyes gleamed with mischief. He hid a smug grin behind a sip of coffee. "Maybe."

The thief groaned and flopped back against her soft pillows. She sunk into the deliciously comfy bed.

"How the hell did you find me?" She finally groaned at the ceiling.

"Scent trail."

Abi moaned again and covered her face with her hands. Unbelievable. Hours spent casting magical wards, moving in elaborate paths across the city to throw off any person tailing her, and forging innumerable legal documents to purchase this place were entirely undone because some handsome, cocky stranger had a super nose. How was this happening? The thief lay there and suffered for a few more moments.

The edge of her bed dipped. She resisted the urge to bolt backward, and she groaned through her palms. The thief raised her hands off her face and arched an eyebrow at the intruder sitting on her bed. Despite herself, her heart pounded against her chest. Laxus sat on the edge of the bed and held two cups of coffee. The sight stirred something inside of her that Abi quickly quashed. Abi forced her expression to remain a neutral scowl. Laxus remained undeterred.

The Dragon Slayer extended the cup of coffee towards her.

"You need to get up if we're gonna make it to Porylusica's by mid-day."

Abi's scowl deepened and she scooted herself upright and back a few inches. She begrudgingly accepted the peace offering. Their fingers brushed against one another. A jolt of energy bounded up Abi's fingertips, through her forearm, and ignited in her heart. She flushed slightly and quickly pulled the mug back and up to her lips. She blew on the hot drink and reassured herself that the color in her cheeks was due to the steam wafting up from the coffee, and definitely not from the sexy, imposing man sitting beside her.

The thief took a tentative sip of coffee and frowned. "So, where is Porly-who-sica again?"

Laxus placed a hand on the bed and leaned backward against Abi's calf lightly. The casual contact made her stomach flutter. The Praesidio tried to bury the feeling. She bent her knee, pulling her leg away from him.

"Porlyusica," He corrected, "She's a little over halfway between Magnolia and Hargeon."

Abi arched an eyebrow. "But that should only be an hour away with a magic vehicle."

The Dragon Slayer wrinkled his nose for a brief moment—so quickly that Abi almost missed the expression of distaste. Then, Laxus shrugged, his voice carefully measured. "It would be. If we were gonna use one."

Her blue eyes narrowed slightly beneath her thick lashes. Abi cocked her head to the side, "And we aren't using a one because…?"

His mouth tightened into a line for a moment, then he spoke with a forced casual tone, "Because we're walking."

Abi blinked. The thief must have misheard him. But for some reason, Laxus's serious expression hadn't changed. A small laugh bubbled up from the blonde woman.

"I'm sorry, I thought I just heard you say that we're walking."

Laxus took a sip from his mug and nodded cooly. "I didn't stutter, did I?"

Abi scoffed and rolled her eyes as she took another sip of coffee. "Well, you're crazy if you think I'm walking."

"It's a half day's journey on foot," The Dragon Slayer's voice carried an edge to it, as though he were doing his best to keep calm. Oh, and why does this make you tense, Laxus?

Abi's eyes narrowed and she lowered her mug to her lap. She leaned forward slightly, "Why can't we just take the magic vehicle and cut that time in half?"

Laxus's expression darkened and he fixed her with a hard stare, "Because I say so."

Abi shook her head and sat up even farther in the bed, moving away from Laxus to the best of her ability. "Nuh-huh. No way. I am not walking for half the day, in this godforsaken heat, into some godforsaken forest. That's a waste of energy. Worse—you're probably leading me into a trap." Abi frowned and thought for a moment. "And! It's a full day of walking out and back!"

"I am not leading you into a trap," Laxus gritted his teeth.

"Exactly what someone with a trap would say!" Abi retorted.

Laxus closed his eyes and seemed that he was trying his best to not crush the coffee cup in his hand. The Dragon Slayer inhaled sharply, and suddenly, he pulled all of his agitation inward. A calm look came over him, and the display of apathy sent chills down Abi's spine. Laxus opened his grey eyes and looked at Abi with a blank, austere expression.

"We go on foot or not at all."

"Fine." Abi folded her arms and stared back at him defiantly.

Little gold sparks flared in Laxus's grey eyes and betrayed his agitation. The intensity of his gaze made Abi's stomach flutter. His eyes broadcasted barely volatile, coiled-up violence that could burst at any moment. It was hard to hold his gaze, and she felt her mouth glued shut. The Praesidio was painfully aware of how close she sat and stared at what felt like an apex predator—a dragon. Breathe. She steeled her nerves.

The blonde woman forced her movement to remain fluid and motioned for the door with her mug. Laxus's eyes flared gold for a moment as he realized she called his bluff. The Dragon Slayer turned his head and stared at the apartment's wooden door, seeming to debate something serious.

"I would…greatly…appreciate it," The words came out like pulling teeth, "If you would go with me on foot." He turned to Abi, his nose wrinkled with distaste. He closed his eyes for a moment, inhaled deeply through his nose, and a muscle twitched along his jaw. He opened his eyes on the exhale. The only sign of agitation was the little gold sparks burning in his gaze. He ground out, "…Please."

The Praesidio raised an eyebrow. "Wow. That took a lot out of you, huh, big guy?" She smirked slightly, feeling giddy at the small victory. Abi cocked her head to the side. "Tell me why we're walking."

Laxus pressed his lips together and chose his next words carefully. "Because I can't travel long distances with another person in my lightning body."

Abi took a mental note of that ability. An electrical form explained how he showed up in the bathroom yesterday…

The thief shook her head. "Not answering the question, Laxus." Abi set her coffee cup on the side table and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her thighs. "Why aren't we taking a vehicle?"

Laxus scowled. Color crept up his neck. He looked away. "It's a Dragon Slayer thing," He said gradually. Abi raised an eyebrow. He turned and gave her a look of pure loathing. "I… can't go on objects that move."

She narrowed her eyes; that was an odd way to phrase a sentence. "What exactly do you mean by… 'can't?'"

The Dragon Slayer looked like he wanted to flay her alive. His grey eyes flared gold. Abi tried not to wince. He ground out the words: "Motion. Sickness."

Abi snorted and rolled her eyes. Yeah, right. Then, she saw Laxus's positively dour expression. "Oh, you're serious." The thief furrowed her brows and cocked her head to the side, appraising the Dragon Slayer in a new light. "Really?"

She digested this information for a few more seconds. Slowly, a smile crept across her lips. Abi put a hand over her mouth. She snorted again. Then, a giggle escaped. Then, another. Gold sparks of rage and embarrassment flooded the Dragon Slayer's irises.

The thief collapsed into a fit of giggles.

"Ha-ha, laugh it up," Laxus growled as he crossed his arms and glared out the window.

Abi continued to chortle for a few more moments, then wiped at the corners of her eyes.

"Gods, that's delightful information." She picked up her coffee cup and smiled. "So if I ever need to get rid of you, I'll just put you on a boat." Abi smothered a giggle, bringing the cup to her lips for a moment. Then, her eyes lit up gleefully, "Or, better yet! A wheelbarrow!" She cackled,

Laxus looked positively murderous. He ground out, his face growing redder, "If you ever put me in a wheelbarrow, I guarantee they will never find your body."

"Ooo," with one hand, the thief waggled her fingers at him, "That's some pretty tough talk, speed-racer." She giggled into her coffee cup.

"Are you coming, or not?" The Dragon Slayer growled.

Abi rolled her eyes, "Touchy, touchy." She shrugged and then grinned, "I guess so. Maybe I'll bring a bicycle for extra protection, just in case. Or some roller-skates."

An annoyed growl escaped from the Dragon Slayer's lips. "It doesn't affect me if you're the one—you know what?" Laxus shook his head and rose to standing. "Never-mind. You're insufferable."

"Says the man who broke into my apartment!" Abi exclaimed, and lightly kneed against his low back. The Dragon Slayer tossed her an annoyed glance and scowled at her. Then, he took a sip of coffee. Laxus turned his head in the opposite direction and nodded toward the island counter with a bored expression. "By the way, you got a package last night. An invitation to some ball."

Alarm shot through her heart, and the thief sat up immediately. "You went through my mail?" Abi threw the covers off and scrambled out of bed.

Laxus shrugged leisurely. "You went through my stuff already, sweetheart. Just returning the favor." He nodded towards the center of the counter again. "It's right there."

Abi made a noise of annoyance and stomped over to the island, tripping once on the way. On the center of the island countertop lay an envelope that had a small, silver circular magic seal cracked opened by the nosy dingus sitting on her bed. Abi tried to cool her annoyance as she ripped the contents from the letter. She dumped them onto the surface, and brushed back her long blonde hair over her shoulder with a huff.

Laxus stood up and padded towards the grumpy thief, his keen gaze fixed upon her. He settled next to her, casually bracing his back against the island. Laxus turned his head and peered over Abi's shoulder; attentive grey eyes moved from Abi's face to the papers in her hand. The Praesidio ignored him and she poured over the contents of the envelope.

The invitation was inlaid on thick, pressed paper. In the center of the card, the flowing silver script read: "You are cordially invited to the Silver Fox Guild's annual Aviary Ball. Entry to the ball will be accessible tomorrow evening via your ticket, August 18th, from 9:00 PM to 9:07 PM. We hope to see you there."

No mention of her request for an audience? Abi flipped the invitation over. On the other side, a handwritten note scrawled in red ink: "Dear Bishop, the Guild Master denies your request for an audience. However, as a thank you for your recent service to the guild, the master extends a personal invitation to the exclusive Aviary Ball."

Abi pressed her lips together. That thieving bastard.

The guild master just put Abi in a corner. She made it clear she wanted to meet him. He countered with an extended invitation to a very well-guarded, controlled environment, full of his hand-picked allies, with no guarantee they would actually meet. This was so he could watch Abi, entirely on his terms. Rejecting a personal invitation meant she could kiss any type of official meeting goodbye; attending the event placed Abi in a very hostile environment. She had to play ball.

The Praesidio grit her teeth and crumpled the invitation in her fist. Damn it. She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead, trying to come up with a plan. The amulet around her neck glowed blue and stopped her magic from leeching out from her annoyance. Abi opened her eyes and realized Laxus was watching her very carefully. When their gazes met, he raised an eyebrow and lifted his coffee to his lips, silently indicating her to speak.

The blonde woman cleared her throat and forced her expression to become relaxed and casual. "I hate these types of things," She explained cordially. She hoped her smile didn't come off too forced.

The Dragon Slayer nodded. "Sure."

He didn't buy it for a second. Abi's eyes narrowed slightly in annoyance and rotated her body away from Laxus, subconsciously concealing the letter. She looked over the opened papers on the countertop. Two thick slips of long rectangular fabric shimmered with silvery magic. Abi's eyebrows shot up with surprise. "Two tickets?"

Laxus gazed out of the sunny morning windows and nodded. "Yeah, looks like you can bring a plus one."

Abi raised her eyes to glare at Laxus, then lowered them back down to the invitation in her hand. "Those dumbasses. It's supposed to be a top-secret event." Did the Silver Fox give her a second ticket because they thought she pulled off all those jobs because she had a partner? If that was the case, they would be surprised. She began gathering the tickets and invitation back into the envelope.

"So, is Bishop what you normally go by, or…?"

Abi turned to look at him and glared. Laxus raised an eyebrow, daring her to answer. She pursed her lips, then carefully replied, "It's a…business name…I gave to this guild."

"A thieving guild," The Dragon Slayer observed.

Abi paused for a moment. So, Mr. Fairy Tail knows underground thieving guilds by name. Noted. She shrugged, "Gotta make a living somehow."

He snorted. "Okay, Klepto."

Abi swatted the envelope against the Dragon Slayer's bicep. "Ass." Laxus raised the coffee to his lips and winked at her over the rim.

The blonde-haired woman wrinkled her nose at him and tossed the envelope on the counter. The Silver Fox Guild would have to wait. The infernal pest drinking her incredibly expensive, Alverez-imported coffee took precedence today.

"Can we just go already?" She grumbled.

Laxus rolled his eyes and smirked as he set the coffee cup down. "Please, I've been waiting all morning." His bicep flexed with the motion, and Abi felt a jolt of desire course through her. Damn, he's sexy. He raised his steely grey eyes to meet hers, and for a moment, Abi imagined pulling him into bed. She bit the corner of her lip, and a little gold spark ignited in Laxus's eyes. Abi felt herself leaning towards him. His shoulder pressed against hers. The contact carried an electric shock and the flash of an image—a memory.

No.

Before any more intrusive thoughts could cloud her judgment, The tanned woman spun on her heel and stalked away to prepare for the day.

The walk to Porlyusica's took about four hours on foot. Laxus only wanted to throttle Abi once, during a 45-minute argument regarding whether or not to stop for food. Laxus won out—eventually—because he made the point that he could travel at lightning speed to pick up any meal they needed, and they finally passed out of Hargeon's city limits. Other than the food squabble, the thief was surprisingly good company. She moved efficiently, and, aside from the occasional comment that got under his skin, she almost made Laxus smile with a joke or two.

They made good time, and the sun was just past its noonday peak when they turned off the main road and waded their way into the winding, thick forest. As soon as they stepped onto the trail, Laxus noticed a change in Abi's demeanor. Her steps became light and carefully balanced, and she slipped into a silent gait, like a cat, carefully padding through unknown territory. The city girl was apparently at home in the forest, albeit wary of its depths.

The Dragon Slayer held no such apprehensions; Laxus broadcasted power, and all the beasts knew it. He had played in this territory for years as a teenager. Following the seven-year lapse, he returned to this area and lived here during his limbo status with the guild. Any beast or monster that crossed his path was quickly reminded who was the biggest and baddest of them all.

The woods felt downright cool compared to the sweltering, exposed conditions on the road. The sun shone through the tree canopy, casting dappled light across the underbrush and deer paths. Some of the rays caught Abi's hair, and Laxus couldn't help but sneak glances as the afternoon light slid over her pale hair and tanned skin. The thief had tethered her hair up and back, then divided the segments of hair into multiple braids. The process took an excruciatingly long time, during which they bickered over incessantly in her apartment.

"Why do you keep your hair so long if it's such a pain in the ass to take care of?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, the next time I get a haircut, I'll be sure to only do the length you approve of."

'"That'd be appreciated, thanks."

"Smart-ass. Look, you're in my apartment before I'm ready for the day. Now, you get to see my prep for long-winded ambush adventures in the woods."

"For the love of— it's not a trap!"
"Says you!"

The memory both infuriated Laxus and made him grin. She was funny sometimes, though he'd never tell her that. And their bickering was amusing, at times. Stop thinking about her, he chided himself and glared at a distant shrubbery.

They waded through the forest, following a trail Laxus knew well. Now and again, he would open his mouth and inhale lightly, sampling the wild scents and verifying he was on the right path. A few deer, a magic squirrel, and, once, a jabermonkey. Nothing concerning in the least. Nice.

About an hour into the walk, Laxus caught Abi studying him as he surveyed the area.

"So that's how you know where to go. Scent trails?"

Perceptive little thief. "That, and," Laxus shrugged, "I lived in these woods for a few months."

He gestured towards a large oak that had thick, winding roots, the size of his torso. "The trees get bigger, the closer you get to Porlyusica's. The runoff from her magic healing potions encourages old growth."

"Hm." Abi nodded. Her sharp eyes appraised the thickening forest, and they were quiet for a few paces.

"So…When were you living in these woods?" Abi asked. The Dragon Slayer shrugged.

"After the seven-year gap, I...wasn't in good standing with the guild. I hung around here."

Abi raised her brow and glanced skeptically at him, "You weren't in good standing with Fairy Tail? Why? Too busy following the rules, boy scout?"

Laxus's expression darkened, and his lips tightened into a straight line. "Sure." He extended his stride slightly. She really doesn't remember? I guess it was seven years ago. And she would've been, like, 13.

Abi's eyebrows shot up and she halted. Laxus continued to walk for a few more paces.

"You did something actually bad, didn't you?"

The Dragon Slayer glared at the trees ahead as he came to a stop, "Consider it a story for another time."

Abi folded her arms and cocked her head to the side. "What? Did you kill a guild mate? Launch a coup?"

Laxus shook his head and resisted the urge to curl his hands into fists, "Drop it."

Abi's eyes widened slightly. "So which one is it?"

The Dragon Slayer rounded on her, his eyes burning with cold intensity, "I said, drop it."

Laxus could hear her heartbeat jump with fear. However, the blonde woman maintained a cool front and scoffed, "Well, aren't you a ray of sunshine?"

Grey eyes rolled, and he sighed. Not worth the fight.

"Come on, or you'll find out just how sunny I can be."

Abi stuck her tongue out at him, and they continued walking.

The forest grew thicker until the tree trunks became the width of wagons, then small houses. Ancient flora grew on the forest floor, and thick underbrush made it difficult to walk. Abi and Laxus had to walk single file through a narrow, winding deer path. The temperature cooled and became pleasant. The years of healing magic put this part of the forest in harmony. Breezes tugged at the deep green leaves, flowers gleamed like jewels on vines, and the sound of a nearby river filled the air with the sounds of rushing water. The air smelled crisp and full of verdant life. Birds sang in the trees, bees buzzed, and crickets sang. The forest was alive and at peace.

Laxus glanced over his shoulder and saw Abi looking around, blue eyes wide with wonder. The relaxed expression made her features soften. She glowed. She looked beautiful. Something shifted in his gut. Laxus wanted to pull her to him. Run his hands through her hair. Kiss her soft mouth.

Where did that come from?

Laxus cleared his throat and glared, "Should be just up ahead."

They climbed over a small ridge and came upon a clearing. In the center, an ancient, sprawling oak gleamed in the sunlight. The gargantuan tree was the epicenter of peaceful, ancient magic. It was hollowed out, yet still alive. Large, rounded windows and a large wooden door carved through the trunk, and a small chimney emerged from one of thick, gnarled branches. A woven ladder hung from one of its limbs, and scars of ancient runes scrawled across the base of the gargantuan trunk. An earthen staircase led up to a rounded wooden door, and varying levels of flattened-out grass areas were home to gardens flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Laxus would never know how such a crotchety old woman made such a serene place.

The strong herbal scents assaulted Laxus's nose, and he sneezed. A deer that grazed in the grassy path in front of them startled, and scampered away. Abi chortled. "Y'alright, Sneezy?"

Annoyance flashed across Laxus' face, "Come on."

They approached the towering tree and climbed the stairs to the intricate, carved door. Laxus stopped a few paces before the steps and inhaled deeply. Fresh hints of elderberry, poppy, lemon, and the slightly sweet-sour smell of recently peeled plant bark filled his nose. Porlyusica always smelled a bit maternal to Laxus…he guessed it was because she was the med-mage who delivered him, but he always found the comforting scent extremely odd, given the old hag's cantankerous demeanor.

Anxiety clawed at his stomach. Laxus closed his eyes for a moment and summoned a bit of inner strength. Fuck, he hated coming here. The Dragon Slayer raised his hand to knock on the door; a voice snarled on the other side, "Go away!"

Laxus paused with his knuckles an inch from the thick wood. Abi's eyebrows rose and she shot Laxus an incredulous glare.

"Are you serious?" The blonde woman whispered furiously. Abi looked back and forth, between the Dragon Slayer and the locked door a few times. "You brought me all the way out here, and this healer won't even see us?" She smacked Laxus's bicep with the back of her hand.

Laxus wrinkled his nose slightly, then exhaled through his teeth, "She'll see us." I hope.

"No, I won't!" A muffled voice answered on the other side.

"Oh, come on, Old Hag, we need your help."

Abi facepalmed and groaned. "Great way to talk to a woman, bucko," She muttered into her hand. Laxus tossed an annoyed glance toward Abi.

There was no response from Porlyusica for a few moments. Then, the door jerked open slightly. A short, older woman with pink hair tightly slicked back into a bun scowled at them. Her fierce red eyes darted between Laxus and Abi a few times, and her mouth puckered into an even tighter scowl.

"Don't tell me you got her pregnant, Laxus."

Laxus blanched and Abi's mouth dropped open. Then, they exploded into protests.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"Why would you even think that?!"

"I would never, ever sleep with someone like him!"

"Hell would have to freeze over!"

Porlyusica held up her hand. "Enough!" She silenced Abi and Laxus with one severe look. The old woman tightened her grip on the door and looked the Dragon Slayer up and down. Then, she focused her cold red eyes on Abi. The Praesidio swallowed and raised her chin slightly, not shying away from the terrifying woman. Abi's cheeks were flaming red. Laxus's face wasn't doing much better.

"If you're not with child, girl, then why are you here? Your sort doesn't take kindly to med-mages."

Abi opened her mouth and closed it. A ring of gold flared around her irises, and she tensed her jaw slightly. A charged, predatory look came over the blonde woman's face like she just found a new prey. Laxus clamped a hand on the Praesidio's shoulder.

"I—we've been having bad dreams." Laxus interrupted. Abi turned her head and shot the Dragon Slayer an accusatory gaze. Her tanned skin grew hot under his fingertips, and Laxus dug in a little tighter.

"Bad dreams?" Porlyusica echoed incredulously, then made a noise of disgust. "Drink a sleeping tea, then. Don't bother me!" She moved to shut the door.

"Something's messed with our minds!" Laxus's other hand flashed out and pressed against the closing door. His hand closed over Porlyusica's fingers. The old healer paused and glared at the Dragon Slayer's offending hand. He quickly dropped his grip on both women, took a step back, and folded his arms against his chest.

"Look, she and I—we've been sharing this reoccurring dream, ever since the Grand Magic Games occurred, and—,"

Porlyusica rolled her eyes, "There's been thousands of people talking about reoccurring dreams these past few months. Haven't you read the news? It's a phenomenon. Probably a backwash of some big spell being cast during the Grand Magic Games, which altered the exposed peoples' sleep patterns. Go drink some tea and stop wasting my time!"

The med-mage slammed the door shut.

"Wait!" Abi put her hand on the door and leaned her head against it. The Praesidio closed her eyes and inhaled deeply through her nose. Her fingers tightened slightly.

"Laxus had my amulet," Abi finally spoke to the door. Her voice wavered, "Laxus—he had my amulet, but I don't know how. I wouldn't-," She turned her head slightly and looked at Laxus, blue eyes fraught with emotion, "I would only give this to someone I trust." Her hand came up and closed around the amulet. She took a step back, her voice carrying a little stronger. "And I have this dream dream that I sacrificed myself for him, and- and he had my amulet. But I don't have any memory of him."

Porlyusica swung the door open, her expression flat. "You don't have any memory of him, girl?" The old woman jabbed a finger at Laxus.

Abi took a step back and shook her head. The med-mage narrowed her red eyes. "What about Fairy Tail? Do you remember meeting any members of Fairy Tail?"

Laxus looked between the furious old woman and the tensing Praesidio; he wondered when he should intervene.

Abi's eyes went blank, "No, I-,"

Porlyusica lunged forward and grabbed Abi's face, staring into her eyes. The Praesidio's eyes widened in shock. Then, she jerked backward, knocking the healer's grip away. Abi's eyes flared gold-white with power for a moment, and white magic circles danced around the Praesidio's palms. "What's your problem, lady!?" The blonde woman snarled.

Porlyusica ignored the indignant woman and rounded on Laxus. The Dragon Slayer took a cautious step back, but the med-mage grabbed him by the collar and jerked him forward and down. Laxus grunted and his eyes flashed in annoyance.

Porlyusica's furious red eyes burned into his, "Tell me, do you remember watching the Games with her, Laxus?"

Laxus tried to pull back and felt his neck and back muscles tense for a moment. A hot, white nothingness blanketed his mind for a moment. He gritted his teeth and pried the old woman's hand off of his shirt collar.

"No, I don't, you old hag."

Porlyusica huffed and stomped her foot on the dirt step. "Idiot! You're just like the old fool!"

Laxus and Abi exchanged concerned glances. The med-mage cursed a few more moments, then, a broom materialized in her hand. She smacked both of them upside the head with the bristles.

"Ow!" Abi cried.

"Old hag!"

She pointed a gnarled finger at both of them and slammed the broom bristles on the ground angrily. "You've gotten tangled up with some memory mage. Do you have any idea how complex mind magic is? Or how hard it is to break the spells?"

Abi stepped back, her face going blank again "Wait, how do you know it's a memory mage?"

Porlyusica rolled her eyes, "Because you all have met before. You attended the Grand Magic Games together."

The floor felt like it dropped out from under Laxus. His mind swam, trying to put the pieces of his memory together. It was like gazing through the fog and glimpsing a silhouette of a thought. He closed his eyes, and concentrated, trying will magic power into his mind. The blank fog lightened for a moment and then reformed. Damn it. Meditation wasn't his strong suit.

Porlyusica swept angrily at the dirt floor, muttering to herself "…why I don't like humans!" She scowled, "And whoever cast this did a number on you both. But especially you!" She glared at Abi.

"Me?" The Praesidio echoed incredulously and pointed to herself.

"Yes, I can see it already. You're conditioned to resist any aid-,"

"Can you fix it?" The Dragon Slayer interrupted. Porlyusica stopped sweeping and stared at Laxus flatly.

"You expect me to drop everything I'm doing to perform an intricate healing spell for you?"

"Well, I don't see anything else going on." He muttered under his breath. Abi winced.

"No!" Porlyusica exploded and, hit him over the head with the broom handle. "Now, scram!"

The med-mage turned and stomped back into her house. She slammed the door shut and clicked the lock.

Abi and Laxus exchanged shocked expressions.

"Memory magic?" Abi asked.

The Dragon Slayer groaned and dragged a hand over his face. "Come on, maybe the Thunder Legion can help dig up some information."

The two turned and walked down the stairs.

Porlyusica slid open the door viewer. The two turned at the sound. "Be here in the morning. I'll help you then."