Chapter Sixty-Eight
"We are entering the orbit of Earthland." Habiki announced and Evergreen grunted as she was forced backwards into her seat.
"You can drop the -land part. We just call it Earth." Elfman grossed and crossed his arms against the increased pressure.
"But how can you differentiate between all the other planets that way?" Eve asked and Mirajean giggled.
"We haven't set foot on anything further than our moon before. So we have other names for the nearby planets. We only call ours Earth."
"I am sorry I did not mention how primitive the planet and its inhabitants were." Alfie offered as Eve and Ren shared a look. Mirajean and Elfman chuckled and shook their heads while Evergreen just rolled her eyes. Habiki adjusted a few controls and shook his head. He was getting less and less surprised by what he was learning about the inhabitants of this planet.
"We will forgive you this time Alfie, but next time, expect a reprogramming." Ren joked and the AI system made a beeping sound that was akin to a snort.
"As if you could reprogram my binary."
"I think someone feels threatened." Eve joked and there was another beeping.
"Lay off of Alfie." Mira shook her head as mirth laced her voice.
"If she wants to act like a Guildmate; she'll have to learn to handle the abuse the same as the rest of us." Evergreen interjected.
"I am a Guildmate. I am not acting." The AI's tone was sharp.
"You all do realize she has control of the health trackers right?" Mirajean asked and tilted her head. All four who had been ragging on the AI got quiet. There was low hum, as if Alfie was laughing at their discomfort. Elfman chuckled and shook his head. He looked over at Mirajean and the two shared a look before she rolled her eyes and he winked.
"Sometimes I forget that the women of Earth side with Alfie." Ren sulked and Eve and Habiki shared a nod. The shuttle started to glow as they hit the gravitational pull and entered the atmosphere. The shuttle swayed sided to side and everyone grunted.
"I hate rollercoasters." Elfman muttered and Evergreen looked over at him.
"A what now?"
"Rollercoasters are rides. They go really fast, do loops and spins, and are usually pretty rough and involve a lot of rocking and swaying."
"And these are ridden for fun?"
"Yeah." He said and closed his eyes. "A lot of people love them and a lot of people don't. I'm in the latter."
"Lisanna is in the former; and used to drag Elfman on all of the rides when we'd go to amusement parks." Mirajean added, looking over her shoulder. She smiled comfortingly. Elfman started to blush which made Evergreen's eyes narrow. "Poor Elfman puked more than once after she made him ride all of the rollercoasters without a break."
"Of course she did." Evergreen rolled her eyes. "I'm beginning to think despite the size disparity she was the bully of the two of them."
"Basically. I was a bad role model." Mirajean turned back around and missed the looks the Blue Pegasus males shared. Elfman looked at Evergreen who was frowning. He leaned closer and she leaned towards him, her blonde hair bouncing into her field of vision when the shuttle started to bounce as they reduced to speed.
"Mirajean was a bit of a rebel for a few years. Mom and dad had a lot of problems trying to control her. It wasn't until after they died that she turned…nice."
"She and Laxus have a lot more in common than I thought." The Fairiest muttered and it was Elfman's turn to frown. She saw the frown and leaned back closer. "He went on a power trip at one point; tried to turn the whole Guild Station against one another in a battle royale. Natsu beat him with a headbutt that helped him realize he was being an ass."
"Huh…somehow I'm not surprise it was Natsu." Elfman said as he leaned back into his seat and Evergreen giggled and nodded her head calmly.
"Just like it's not surprising that Lisanna is the one who enjoys the bumpy rides. She doesn't seem like the one who just likes the normal things."
"That's a fair assessment of her." Mirajean said from her seat up ahead of them.
"What about you Mirajean? Do you like the rollercoasters too?"
"No…they make me puke." They all looked at her, and she was smiling, but sweating. Suddenly a contraption sprouted from the floor wrapping around her face. Alfie's voice came over the cabin.
"I have put a containment covering over her. There will not be any contamination if she becomes ill on this entrance."
"Thank you for that speed Alfie." Eve said and they watched as the covering lit up; indicating that Mirajean had in fact gotten sick.
"We're nearly on the ground." Habiki offered and Mirajean just nodded, gripping tightly onto the armrests of her seat.
"Blue Pegasus shuttle will be here in a few skrits." Alfie stated and Erza nodded slowly. She turned around and pulled the fork out of her mouth. Lucy grinned and her eyes narrowed as the blonde looked away, taking her secret mirth with her.
"Thanks Alfie." Erza said and sat down.
"How can you eat that? It's so sweet." Jellal asked and watched as she scooped up another piece. She eyed him wearily and put the piece in her mouth. Grinning at him around the fork.
"Do not get between Erzie and her sweets. You will lose a limb." Cana warned and Jellal nodded slowly and watched as both Lucy and Natsu's shoulders shook with mirth.
"Did you hear that guys?" Sting asked, sticking his head into the hole between the Magi-Hover and the shelter. "We're going to have a stacked landing; so don't freak out. More friends soon."
There was chirping and growling and he nodded. Happy was snoozing on the table next to Cana so they had no idea what the hybrids were saying as he wasn't translating. Sting stopped nodding.
"I know it's exciting but you'll have to wait. I'm not sure if they have anything fun to say or do." More chirping. "No…I am not going to tell them to play with you."
"Can you actually understand them?" Meredy asked and Sting looked over at her.
"No…but at least I'm trying. That has to count for something right?"
"Unless you are just making them angrier." She said, flipping her pink hair over her shoulder.
"She's not wrong. Don't antagonize them unless you are going to wake up Happy and have him translate properly." Rouge said, his shadow reaching out to slap Sting's head. As his head bounced off of the wall, both hybrids chirped.
"We don't need Happy to translate that. They're laughing at the abuse." Cana wheezed, wiping tears from her eyes.
"Ha ha ha." Sting rubbed the back of his head and leapt up; a ledge popping out for him to land on. Meredy's mouth dropped open until Ultear kicked her and shook her head. Rouge grinned into his mug of coffee and looked over at Natsu and Lucy. They were sitting side by side, their heads together. Once Gray had sulked off to his room; they had sat down and gotten quiet. Which had unnerved everyone but there was nothing they could do. Juvia had left to relieve herself and so it was just everyone else sitting around. Erza and he had gotten drinks and snacks.
Happy was snoring on the table while Cana shook her head as she looked at him. She had lamented the lack of food or drink; but had also stated she hadn't felt hunger or thirst inside of the card. She also hadn't felt the basic other needs; which was unusual. But they were summing it up to the magic that had her bound inside of the card. They hadn't heard from Gajeel's team yet if they had run into Gildarts or not with the other shuttles that had landed.
"Has Bixlow made it to the Magi-Hover with Wendy yet?" Sting asked and there was a low humming.
"They will arrive shortly." Alfie stated. "Lisanna and Bixlow have managed to get the female with them to eat and bathe. She has not identified herself; but her hatchling's name is Alexander."
"Strong name." Erza murmured and set her plate and fork down. It sank into the table as it was empty. She folded her arms and sighed. "Are Bixlow and Lisanna tagged with the health trackers yet?"
"Negative. They have been avoiding them." Alfie's tone was flat, and it made everyone snicker.
"Tell them to suck it up." Erza said. "And not to do it around the woman with the baby or she'll never agree to it either."
"Understood." Alfie hummed softly. Lucy looked up from where she and Natsu had been sitting calmly. She looked back at him and he smiled lazily at her.
"Alfie, you haven't mentioned Loke in any of the recent briefings. And I didn't see Aquarius on the video communicate with the Blue Pegasus team. Why is that?"
A flat humming came through and Lucy sighed. "They got called back to their secret base didn't they?"
"Affirmative." Alfie responded and Lucy shook her head. Natsu scoffed and leaned back and reached into the pocket of his pants. He pulled something out and handed it to her.
"Thank you." She said and flipped it around in her fingers. "So…this is a jewel huh?"
"Yep. A red one. Highest count." He said and everyone looked over. She was flipping it along her fingers. Over one knuckle at a time. She stopped and looked at it.
"Erza?"
"A bets a bet." She said and reached into her cleavage and pulled something out and flipped it to her. Everyone stared as she caught it. The coin was large, and one side was colored.
"No way. You bet your challenge coin?" Cana sounded amazed.
"I was sure Loke at minimum would resist being called back." Erza shrugged and looked annoyed. "But I guess he couldn't argue being he was promoted."
"I have expected him to fight it too; don't feel bad." Lucy confided. She rolled the challenge coin along her knuckle like she had the red jewel.
"What is a challenge coin?" Gray asked as he sat down next to Rouge.
"Several countries on this planet; would create coins for different branches of their military. You'd get them from people for special occasions, after heroic acts, or promotions or retirements. Then whenever the military members would get together at bars; one would tap; or challenge; the others. Whoever didn't have their coin on them; or had the least "impressive" one would end up paying the tab. The rules varied from country to country and group to group; but about the same." Erza explain and nodded with her head towards Lucy. "Mine I got after an ROTC competition. During the event; we had ROTC groups from around the country competing and I saw a guy who looked suspicious. I can't even say what made my skin crawl. But I started to approach him while a guest speaker was getting to the podium between events."
"You don't have to explain Erza." Cana said softly as Erza took a deep breath, a look crossing her face that was hard to describe.
"It's in the past." Erza shook her head. "Anyway…He pulled a large weapon out and was about to attack the guest speaker. I shouted; jumped forward and wrestled with him. He fired his weapon; people started to run, scream, the usual when chaos erupts. A few other ROTC enlistees came over to help. It took four of us to get the weapon away from him and subdue him. During the melee there were three casualties. Two were trampled by the scared people running away and the third was killed by the discharge during the struggle."
"Erza has always blamed herself for the last one." Cana explained into the following silence. "Even though it was after the other ROTC enlistees got involved. The entire time it was just her and the terrorist; she kept the weapon pointed away from people."
"I should have been able to disarm him before that; and somehow I couldn't." Erza sank a bit in her seat.
"Erza…you were eighteen, almost nineteen. And you rushed someone when you didn't have a weapon and were in workout gear." Lucy chided. Her friend shrugged and Jellal saw the pain in her brown eyes and in the lines around Cana's mouth. Her friends hated that she still blamed herself. He looked at Erza and could almost smell the shame rolling off of her.
"Most young beings can't even think about charging an enemy when they're in a vulnerable state. You shouldn't blame yourself that things happened outside of your control." He said and she looked at him.
"I know. But it doesn't make the losses easier." She said.
"This coin she got." Lucy said, pulling his attention back to her. "Was a gift to her from the guest speaker. The SecDef…or the Secretary of Defense. Very high up in our former government."
"He said that he wished he could take the pain away; that he knew I blamed myself. But this was something that he could give me; so I'd almost always win any future challenges." Erza chuckled. "But somehow I don't think it's going to help with an alien invasion."
"To be fair; you may still be one of the few with a coin." Cana said somewhat optimistically.
"Except now it's Lucy's." Erza reminded her and Cana grimaced and nodded.
"Erza…" She looked up at Lucy who flipped something to her. She caught it and flipped it over in her hand. It was the red jewel; but something caught her eye. She rotated it; and her smile slowly spread across her face.
"Why is the jewel making you smile?" Sting asked, leaning over in his seat a bit more. Everyone looked at her more intensely and her smile widened; brightening her face.
"I'm guessing Natsu engraved it." She said and flipped it up to Sting. He rotated it in his hand and grinned himself. He looked down at his fellow Dragis.
"Not bad work for a Fire Dragis."
"Like you could do better." Natsu cracked off and Sting sent the jewel to Rouge who smiled and handed it to Gray who also grinned.
"What is on the jewel?" Juvia asked and Gray held it out to her. She took it, and looked. A soft smile flitted across her lips. "This is wonderful."
"What?" Jellal asked and she handed it to him. Ultear and Meredy looked over his shoulder. In the red stone of the jewel coin; Natsu had carefully etched the Fairy Tail logo and on the flip side; was a heart with a sword inside it.
"We're calling that the Lieutenant General Fairy Tail Challenge Coin." Lucy said softly and Erza blushed but she smiled at her friend. "But I'm keeping your old one unless we make another bet and you win."
"I think I'm done betting against you." Erza laughed and Lucy smiled. Natsu leaned forward and put his chin on her shoulder. He kissed her cheek quickly before standing up and holding his hand out for the coin. Jellal gave it to him and he turned it over in his hands. He held it out to Erza. She took it and smiled at him. "Thank you Natsu."
"Of course. Luce and I wanted to try and make something feel…familiar." He said and looked down at his feet before smiling at her. "Hopefully it's not bad for a Dragis Challenge Coin."
"I think this is going to be my favorite one." She said and he grinned wider. Lucy felt herself warm from within; and she realized it was because her family was growing closer. She looked around. She had hated it; when she'd grown distant from her parents after her falling out with her father. And while she'd gotten close to the girls during college; and the initial invasion. It wasn't until recently; after seeing how everyone from Fairy Tail treated each other; that she had begun to consider the girls her family. And she was glad to see her Earth family growing closer to Natsu and her new family.
He looked over his shoulder at her and she smiled at him; wondering what emotions from her he was feeling. She turned and smiled at Juvia who was talking with Meredy and Ultear; but appeared to be getting overwhelmed. But before she could speak up; Gray was there, breaking the focus of the other two. Juvia looked relieved and relaxed against the wall. Cana started to demand that Erza show her the new coin; hating that she was two dimensional and couldn't just grab it for herself. Jellal was shaking his head at something that Rouge and Sting were saying. In the background, Alfie was humming; a low hum that was comforting.
"Juvia?" The bluenette jumped at Gray's voice and she spun around. He was leaning against a wall, his arms and legs crossed as he stared at her. She had walked out of the main area a few moments ago; but hadn't heard or felt him follow.
"Sorry. You are very quiet." She whispered wiping at her face as she cleared her throat. "Juvia got something in her eye."
"Try again, maybe the truth." He said and she twisted her hands behind her back and leaned her shoulders onto the wall and looked down at her feet. She heard him sigh and move but couldn't bring herself to look up. She waited for hm to speak but instead she felt his warmth and her head jerked up. He had his hands on the wall, planted on either side of her head; and he was leaning in, looking down at her. Her pulse quickened; her instincts warning her that she was trapped. Instinctively she closed her eyes. She didn't like being caged in; flashbacks started and her breathing quickened. She heard Alfie hum in the background; but then, she felt something cool touching her forehead. It stilled her panic and she closed her eyes, focusing on the coolness.
As the coolness spread, calming her panic, her hearing started to return to full strength. "Breathe…In and out. In and out."
Gray's voice was low, and close. She shivered, following his instructions. Slowly, her panic faded and as it did, she opened her eyes. She met his dark gaze, surprised to realize that the cool touch she'd felt on her forehead, was his forehead. He and tightened his form; closing her in even more than before; but his initial warmth had be traded for cool; no doubt by him focusing on his ice lineage.
"Juvia is calm now." Alfie's voice was low and Juvia blinked, tears threatening to spill; because the low tone sounded almost concerned. She wasn't used to anyone being concerned about her; and yet an AI system cared. She blinked, trying to push the tears back.
"Let them out." He ordered, and she stiffened for a second before the floodgates opened and she started to cry. He dropped his arms from the wall and wrapped them around her and cradled her close. She cried harder as he held her gently. Her body tried to liquify but she didn't want to lose the sensation of being held; it was something she couldn't remember happening after her family had been murdered. But at the same time; it was difficult to hold herself together while crying.
"Let go." He whispered. "Trust me."
With a heart wrenching sob, she did. She felt her body become fluid. The freedom of being water; while welcoming was heartbreaking as she lost the sensation of being held. But then, something happened. She felt the sensation of being held again. The coolness encapsulating every molecule of her essence.
Gray opened his eyes, seeing the unmistakeable sheen of ice in front of him. He leaned back slowly and looked up and down. In his arms was a perfect ice sculpture of Juvia; but inside it; she moved freely in her water form. He had focused harder than he could remember; to make the sculpture hollow. He had noticed that the coolness had helped her calm down; and he thought had understood why she hadn't wanted to become water.
He hoped that this helped her. He hadn't intended on scaring her; or causing her to panic. Her panic attack had almost triggered his own. He don't want Lucy or Erza thinking he was bullying her. But he'd seen her leave, looking upset and he didn't want her thinking she had to suffer alone. Fairy Tail wasn't a Guild that believed in isolation. Especially when upset; even if you wanted to be alone; someone usually tagged along with you.
He wasn't sure what had triggered her; but he wanted her to know she was with people who wanted to care. But instead he'd upset her. That was a specialty of his. Making things worse. Wendy had once said that his demeanor and approach was as cold as his ice; and he wasn't sure how to change that.
"Alfie, is she okay in there?" He asked, he could see the tracker floating inside of the sculpture. He wasn't sure if it could work in this form.
"She is. She is still highly emotional but calming down per her readings." The AI said softly.
"Thank you. Is there anyway to update her tracker."
"Update it how?" Alfie inquired and he stared at the dark metal through the ice.
"Replace the metal; or update it; to have the same cloaking ability as the Magi-Hovers? I don't want enemies seeing it when she turns to water. They might target it."
"I…had not considered that technology application…that might have been a better initial material. With that; they may not have needed to go sub-dermal." Alfie sounded almost ashamed and he tilted his head.
"I won't tell anyone else if you don't. And make the human woman's tracker the same so it doesn't have to be implanted—but tell Lisanna and Bixlow that this is only for humans who won't be fighting."
"Of course." The AI hummed. "I will have to remove Juvia's tracker to update it. It will most likely cause additional pain."
"Maybe not." He said and placed his hand on the bust of the ice sculpture and focused on it. Ice reached into her water form; surrounded the tracker and pulled it forward; while making sure that her water passed through the ice. He clutched the tracker in his hand and Alfie opened a panel for him to place it in.
"I will work on this. Hopefully I can manage to correct it before she returns to a solid state."
"Take your time. Make sure it's right." He said and she hummed lowly. He watched as Juvia swam inside of the sculpture, letting whatever was affecting her out. He marveled at how his ice and her water created prisms on the walls and floor around them. He watched them shimmering, winking in and out and changing color and design. Watching the colors helped calm his nerves. He wasn't sure how long he'd stood there watching but he came to as a panel slid open.
"I have made the improvements." Alfie stated as he picked up the tracker. He pulled it out and rolled it over in his hands. He placed it against the ice sculpture and closed his eyes, focusing. This time as his ice moved through Juvia's water; he felt a tickle in his senses. He couldn't identify the tickle, but he also knew that he needed to put in the tracker and seal the sculpture before she leaked through.
As he pulled away, sealing off the ice, he felt sorrow hit him. He shook his head, opening his eyes. He watched as Juvia started to form; her blue hair and pale skin looking muted through the ice. She blinked at him, and he pulled away; melting the ice off of her.
"Thank you." She whispered as she shivered, the warm air of the Magi-Hover washing over her as the ice receded.
"Of course." He said and gently cupped her shoulders. "I apologize for startling you earlier. I wasn't trying to scare you or make you think I was wary of you. I…"
"Wanted to make sure Juvia was okay?" She filled in as he trailed off and he nodded.
"Yeah. That."He nodded and gave her shoulders an awkward squeeze before pulling away. He watched as she blushed and looked down. He rubbed the back of his head with one hand. "What happened that you had to run off, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Oh…" Her blush deepened. "Juvia was overwhelmed by everyone's joy and laughter. Its still new to see and feel."
"You don't have to state your own name you know that right?"
"Sorry…it's a habit. Most Aquaterrans spend so much time in water form; surrounded by one another; that our consciousness also begins to float so if we don't name ourselves; people don't know who is talking about themselves."
"That must have been confusing."
"Sometimes. But usually it was just…comfortable." She said and shrugged, she looked up. "Being surrounded by so many who care for each other."
"Yeah, that feeling I know." He grinned and jerked his head backwards.
"When Fairy Tail is at it's full power; it's like that quantified by a few ziklots."
"Juvia will be a blubbering mess a lot then." She smiled and tilted her head to the side and he grinned. "Hopefully Gray or Alfie will be able to help me not become a mess all the time then."
"I think she and I can try our best to help out." He said and winked and she looked down before touching her shirt, over her sternum. "Uh…not sure if you were aware but…"
"You removed my tracker and Alfie updated it."
"So you did hear?"
"Yes. Thank you for making sure I knew." She said and dropped her hand. "We should get back. Otherwise Natsu may make jokes about me being your growlkin."
"Lets not give him ammunition." Gray said and shook his head and grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him down the hallway. He missed the sad smile she sent his way before she schooled her face.
"Hey." Laxus looked up as Freed came in and Mickey jerked up. She looked around, her body tense. Freed froze, his hands up as she eyed him hard. "I apologize for waking you."
"It's fine." She cleared her throat and shook her head. "How long have I been out of it?"
"Not too long." Laxus said and she nodded and ran her hands over her face. "We are nearly to the bank now."
"God this craft moves crazy fast." She said and stood up and stretched. Her back and shoulders popped and Freed looked ill for a few seconds before he schooled his face and Laxus tried not to snort.
"The others have mentioned that as well. Did your crafts not move as fast?"
"Some could but it wasn't legal. We had speed limits to ensure traffic wasn't put at risk due to reckless driving." She said and sat down yawning.
"Your crafts did not auto-pilot?" Freed asked and opened a panel and took out a bottle of water before handing it to her.
"Not really. We were starting to get some that did but only the rich could afford them."
"Primitive." Freed scrunched his nose and Mickey snorted. She eyed him and raised a brow. He got defensive. "What?"
"It was this primitive planet that apparently has survived longer than any other; so maybe being primitive has its advantages." Laxus fallout barked with laughter as Freed was forced to think about that comment. Mickey sipped on her water and blinked slowly a few times.
"That, or the fact that the females of this planet are created of pure spite." Freed shot back and Mickey grinned widely.
"I think she took that as a compliment Freed." Laxus chuckled and turned to look at a panel that was opening. He pulled out a tracker and they all froze. Mickey's eyes narrowed on it.
"Why is there another one of those?" She asked and he shook his head as he held it in his hand.
"Thanks to input from others; I was able to make some modifications." Alfie stated and they watched as the tracker disappeared from Laxus' hand. He curled his fingers to his palm, and stopped.
"It's still there?"
"Yes. I added the cloaking technology of the Magi-Hovers to the tracker. This will allow it to not need to be sub-dermal like the original model."
"Oh that's cool." Mickey said and looked on in awe as became visible again.
"There is a catch." Alfie stated and Mickey deflated.
"There is always a freakin' catch." She muttered and crossed her arms over her chest.
"It will be able to be cloaked if it is exposed; but the shape of it will be evident under clothing if it is as tight as your current clothing." Mickey looked down. She was wearing a skin tight sweat wicking shirt and she sighed. It would show the outline of the tracker. It was not slim or streamlined in any way, shape or form.
"Well I don't exactly have access to clothing stores or options. So I guess sub-dermal is still the way to go."
"You are willing to ensure the pain; because of the clothing issue?" Freed asked looking at her unsure.
"Listen, stores were ransacked first. Clothing isn't easy to come by. And what is found…isn't always sanitary." She shrugged. "Besides, if we find more survivors; that would be better for those that don't want to fight."
"You think like others in Fairy Tail." Alfie stated and reached out a metallic claw to take the updated tracker from Laxus. "You were a good member to add to the ranks."
"Thanks. I think." Mickey said, not sure how she felt about an AI giving a testament to her worth. "Besides, Freed is back so he found the anesthesia so I'll be able to get the implant without too much pain."
"You have a lot of faith in Wendy's ability to use your medical technology with our healing technology." Laxus said softly.
"You all have faith in her. I have faith in your faith." She said and looked from him to Freed. "I've learned to trust my gut; and it says I can trust you both. So your judgement should also be trusted."
"That is a high honor." Freed cleared his throat. "I hope what I say next won't often you then."
"Your edging towards offended." She said flatly and he rolled his eyes.
"While it won't be pleasant, I think you should have the tracker installed resting on your flesh. If we run into trouble while setting up the bank; I want to know you will be safe and watched over by Alfie."
"Logical…I should have expected that from you." She said and stood up. "Alfie, give me the damn thing."
Alfie opened a panel on the table and the original tracker appeared. She hummed lowly. "You will need to place it next to the skin centered over the most vital organs."
"And it will attach how exactly?"
"There are forty thin needles that will puncture the skin and release the various tracking paraphernalia that it contains."
"Eww…I shouldn't have asked." She shook her head and grabbed it. She lifted her shirt up; surprising Laxus and Freed and she shoved it against her skin, forcing it under the band of an article of black clothing that had barely been outlined by the tightness of her shirt.
"Do it already." She bit out and gritted her teeth and waited. There was a soft click and then she tensed as the needles punctured her skin. Then she released her grimace. "Is that it?"
"Affirmative." Alfie stated and she made a face and shrugged.
"You all made it sound like it was going to be damningly painful. I've had worse tattoo outlining sessions than that."
"Tattoo?" Laxus asked and she turned to the side; lifting her shirt up further. His mouth fell open, as did Freed's. Her entire back was a swirl of colors and bold black lines and voids. At the base of her lower back, partially covered by her pants; was what was obviously a stack of books and candles. Behind them a large book was open; color spiraling out of the page and up to her shoulders. She pulled her shirt down.
"Tattoos is where we inject ink into the skin. I would have thought that would have been mentioned by now."
"It might have been." Freed blinked in confusion. "At this point I can't remember anything useful about you all."
"Well what is true about one person is false for another so that's probably for the best." She said and he shook his head while Laxus smirked. Time and again the females of this planet impressed him in ways he wasn't expecting.
"Will you please go and convince the others of your group to have trackers applied to the tops of their flesh?" Alfie inquired and Mickey nodded and grabbed her bottle of water.
"Sure, but I doubt they'll handle it like me. Most of them aren't tatted and they also seem like whiners." She said and started to walk down the hall away from the duo who was still looking at her in shock and awe. Freed turned to Laxus when he thought she was out of earshot.
"Should we be scared?"
"Definitely." Mickey shouted and his eyes widened and Laxus started to laugh so hard he bent over, gripping his knees.