Ultear wandered through the streets of Magnolia, offering smiles to the citizens who greeted her.
" Good to see you, Ul!"
"You, too!"
"how did your job go?"
"Was a little difficult, but nothing that I couldn't handle."
"You seem a little tired."
"I am, so, if you'll excuse me..." People carved a path for her. She knew full well she wasn't the most respected mage in Fairy Tail, but the people all knew her. She inhaled happily, smelling the fresh bread and smell of fruit in the baskets. Ultear was incredibly happy to be home. She took a step forward and immediately regretted it due too her injury. She faltered slightly, letting her smile turn into a grimace. She knew as soon as she'd actually been cut something was wrong, seeing as her ability to turn her body into water was always activated in a fight. But that sword had carved right through her, and she hadn't been at all ready.
"Ultear! My goodness look at you!" Ultear turned to find Ayaka-san, a florist, smiling at her.
"Hello Ayaka-san! It's been a while!"
"My goodness, you look like such a woman already! I'm sure your parents will be happy to see you! As with all the others"
"How have the others been, anyway? Heard anything?"
"Well, if you didn't know already, THE Natsu Dragneel has returned" This certainly was news to Ultear. She had vague memories of Nashi's father, pink hair and a big smile. She'd been almost a year old when he left.
"That's amazing! How's... Nashi been taking it?" Ultear knew every citizen knew about Nashi. She was surprised to see Ayaka-san smile even wider.
"Nashi been taking it amazingly, as a matter of fact. I've never seen that girl smile before, and she's always doing it every time I see her!" Ultear smiled at the thought. Even she, who had taken on a big sister role with Nashi, had barely seen her smile. She'd always been so unhappy.
"I guess I'll know when I see her!"
"Oh tell her I said hello, darling!" Ultear waved to Ayaka-san as she walked away.
Nashi smiling... Ultear found it hard to believe, as awful as that sounded. Nashi barely ever smiled, and when she did she only smiled to get Ultear off her back about it. Ultear shrugged. She'd see soon enough. As she walked past the cafe, she heard two men talking.
"Yeah, from what I heard, she completely thrashed 'em too..."
"I just can't imagine that innocent little girl fighting like her dad... It's just mind boggling to think about"
"Nashi's certainly becoming of age..." Ultear froze at the sound of Nashi's name. She walked up too them.
"You two" She spoke up, garnering their attention. And, just her luck, they were admirers of hers.
"Ultear-sama!" They both chimed irritatingly. Ultear tried not to slap them.
"What was that about Nashi?"
"You haven't heard? Apparently she beat the shit out of poor Rocky and Sammy..." Ultear's eyes widened.
"How did she manage that?" One leaned forward.
"I'll tell ya for a kiss" He leaned forward even more, and Ultear froze his head solid. She turned to glare at the other, and he grinned sheepishly.
"Apparently, and it may or may not be true, but apparently she used magic"
"Impossible" Ultear replied. "Nashi can't use magic, surely you know that"
"That's what I was sayin', but apparently her pops been trainin' her!" Those two never stood a chance!" Ultear had almost forgotten about Natsu. Surely that would answer that question. She started to walk away. "Hey! You forgot to unfreeze my friend!"
"I don't ever recall saying that I would"
Nashi knew it was a long day when she had to judge a burping contest between Drake and Elise. Neither could currently get anything to come up, and it was irritating her she'd agreed in the first place.
" Guys, I'll be honest" She said as she stood up. "I really could care less about this"
"Sit down and wait!" Elise commanded, pointing back at Nashi's chair. The other girl seemed to be preparing a burp, and when it came out, it came out sounding more like a girly screech than anything. Drake burst out laughing, as did Nashi. "Stop laughing! I thought it was a good one!"
"I'm gonna give it too Drake, just because that sucked!"
"Dammit, Nashi, come on! You know I'm way be-" Elise was cut off as the door to the guild hall flew open, a figure silhouetted against the light of the outside. Dark hair hung down from the pulled up hood, and Nashi watched them enter. They stood in the doorway for a moment before a chuckle was heard. A female chuckle.
"What, no banner? No jazz band? No giant display that says 'Congrats Ultear, you did the job!" The hood was thrown back, and Nashi gasped. Ultear stood beneath it, grinning widely. "I'm a tad disappointed." Nashi was thrown out of her daze at the sight of Ultear being tackled by an emotional Juvia.
"Ultear! Mommy was so worried! worried that you were hurt because you took so long getting home!" Ultear sighed and patted her mothers head.
"I'm okay, don't worry. And stop calling yourself Mommy, it's weird." Ultear stood up, and then Nashi noticed it. The way Ultear carried herself.
"She's cradling her leg" She spoke quietly, only so that the other could hear her.
"I know, I heard her" Drake replied. "She's wounded, badly"
"How badly?" Elise murmured.
" Bad enough to make her hide it from everyone, so it must be pretty bad." Nashi could only nod in agreement.
"Well, let's not be rude, and go say hi, or something" Nashi led her friends over to Ultear. Ul smiled as they approached.
"Hey Nashi, it's been a while!" Nashi smiled back at her
"Yeah, it sure has!" Nashi noted how shocked Ultear looked. "What's wrong Ul?" She smirked.
"I guess the rumors I heard in town were true. You can smile" Nashi blushed a little. "So I guess that means you can use magic now, too?" Nashi nodded as she lit her hand aflame, much too the unnecessary delight of her friend. "That's so awesome! I'm proud of you!"
"Yeah, don't say hi, or anything" Drake said loudly behind Nashi. "Elise and I aren't here, whatever"
"Hi Drake, Elise. You guys look so grown up!"
"It's only been a year, Ul. Calm down" Elise spoke up. Ultear grinned darkly.
"And yet you've managed to gain a half a cup size, congrats!" Elise hid her chest and blushed, much to Ultear's delight.
"Bout time you got back, sweetie" Gray said as he walked forward and tore Juvia off her daughter. "Write home sometimes, would ya? You have no idea of the amount of sleepless nights because of your mother over here..."
"Gray-sama! It was her first S-class mission! Mommy was worried about her little girl!"
"What did I just say, Mom?" Ultear demanded. "No Mommy, just Mom or Juvia works fine" The guild dispersed as The Fullbusters reunited. Nashi noted the slight limp Ultear had.
"We'll ask later" Drake said. "Let her family have her for right now" Nashi followed the other two back to their table. It was a few minutes into a heated discussion about the upcoming Grand Magic Games when Ultear squeezed onto the bench next to Nashi.
"I got away from my mom" She said with a grin. "Apprently her clingy-ness never went away, it just transferred departments." Ultear laughed at her own joke, and stopped when she realized no one was laughing. "What's wrong with you guys?"
"We know about your leg" Elise said, breaking the silence created by the bad joke. Ultear's features darkened considerably.
"Should of figured that" Ultear sat out a little bit and showed us the bloody wrappings around her leg. "I was slashed by a sword. pretty bad."
"Why don't you go to Wendy then?" Drake asked. "She'll fix you up"
"It isn't that bad. I'm not dying, or anything" She unwrapped it a little and applied a little water with an outstretched hand, cleaning the wound.
"Why wasn't your body all water like normally?" Nashi inquired.
"That's why I need all of you guys to help me with something" Ultear swung her leg back under the table and looked at all of them quietly. "Tomorrow night, sneak out and meet me by the gate, and we'll leave."
"Woah, woah" Drake said. "Where in the hell are we going?"
"Not now, where so many people can hear us" Ultear hissed. "Tomorrow night, the gate. Be there" Then she dissipated into a puddle and disappeared.
"I hate it when she does that" Nashi sighed.
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