Ruby and the Guild
Chapter 1
While Remnant was in turmoil because of an event that shouldn't have taken place. Another world was having an ordinary day... Or atleast as ordinary as could be in the world of Fairy Tail. Somewhere in Fiore sits a medium sized guild. This guild is housed in Magnolia. And while this guild is no different from most guilds, this guild was known for other reasons. For building friendships, for saving the world. For crafting legends. Inside this guild, many guild members came together. Have fun, laugh and drink. And... if it wasn't obvious by now, brawl.
However unlike Remnant, magic was normalized here. From magic tools, to magic weapons and staffs. To being able to cast magic for merely existing. Makarov, guildmaster of Fairy Tail, was no different. The only difference today, would be the events that are about to unfold. As per usual, and per request, Makarov was on, one of his many walks to stay fit. He obviously thought this was bullshit, but seeing no way to reject this simple request. He accepted it. With a caveat, he would disquise it as a patrol around Magnolia. Which was quickly accepted and with glee at that. Apparently the mayor of Magnolia has been wanting someone for that job for forever now. Who better than the guildmaster himself.
"Sigh." Makarov sighed, he wasn't tired. Just a bit bored. Normally around this time and moment. Something would happen. He would run into Natsu. Lecture him, comment on Lucy's boobs. The work. Today, the sky has been clear. Natsu is having a break, Lucy is at home. Gray was on a quest away from Magnolia. Erza was on a S-rank quest. It is a quiet day.
Or rather was. Makarov suddenly heard a familiar crack in the sky. He looks up to see a familiar sight. A sight he hadn't seen after... the accident. After he had returned to Edolas. And yet, here he was. Looking up. To a crack in the sky. But unlike back then, this time something, or rather someone passed through. In a beam of sheer white light, he saw a young child go through it and float down to the ground. And while normally Makarov would have been stunned in place. He noticed with a single glance that not only was the child young. It was also badly injured. A big dagger in the center of her chest, a part of the blade sticking through her back. Realizing that every second would count, he counted his and hers luck, that the child had appeared nearby the doctor that requested said walks for him.
Makarov then carefully grabbed the injured and unconcious child off the ground and lift it near his chest. He then runs off in a dash towards her small treehouse. And while again, normally Makarov would have knocked on the doctor's door. He instead blew the door off it's hinges.
"Makarov, What are you...?!" The doctor shouted, only to stop herself when she sees the young and badly injured child in Makarov's hands.
"Porlyusica. Where do I put her?"
"There on that bed. Near the window. I will get to her in a moment." The doctor aptly named, Porlyusica replied. A slight notice of both surprise and shock could be heard in her voice.
Makarov placed the child down and stepped back. He then watched the doctor furiously search the cabinets for something. After she found whatever she searched for, she approached the child to investigate the injuries. Though it didn't take a magician to realize that whatever happened, it happened fast and rapidly. The dagger was stabbed in the center of her young body. And while it missed most vitals. It had struck a very specific spot on the thoracic vertebrae. Which had the unfortunate effect, that caused the spine to break in one spot. Causing it to slice through the spine and appear on the back of the child. A part of the blade I mean. Besides that, it was clear the child was in excruciating pain. Despite being knock out cold, the child squirmed in her deep sleep. It was an effect of the body trying ot heal, while also being unable to do so. This only confirmed to Porlyusica, that she needed to hurry.
"Makarov. I will try to remove the dagger. But I need your aid. Get Wendy. Her powers with wind dragon magic will aid the recovery. Also I miss some crucial ingredients to heal the child properly. Here take this list. Get your guild members to collect and deliver them as soon as humanly possible. We are running against a very short clock. She could die, if we don't get to her soon." Porlyusica warned. She then rapidly handed the list with ingredients to Makarov. She then shoo'd Makarov out of the house.
Makarov nodded as she was being removed from the house. He then ran as fast as he could back to the guild. Inside the guild was many handy tools used by guildmasters. One tool was the emergency bell. Of which there was actually two. If Makarov were to ring that lower bell, the top bell would also ring. And as the name states, this was used when an emergency was reached. The definition of emergency was obviously broad. But saving a child life was luckily one of them. When the bell was rung, all guild members near to the guild would run back to the guild as fast as they could. Even if they were in the middle of a quest, they would run back to the guild.
As Makarov neared the guild, he opened the door with such haste, he didn't even bother closing the door behind him. Mirajane smiled at Makarov as he ran passed her to greet him. But Makarov ignored her. Instead, reached for the emergency bell. And rung it. Causing the runes on the bell to keep ringing it. And the big bell outside to ring as well. As the bell rung outside, the guild members swarmed to get inside. Lucy and Natsu dropped what they were doing and ran back into the guild. And as fate would have it, both Erza and Gray were going to make a small pitstop near Magnolia before going back to their Quest. But they too, heard the emergency bell in the background. Causing them to drop their plans and rush back to the guild.
Makarov then heading onto the podium near the bar. He looks at everyone before nodding at Fried to stop the runes. Before he had a chance to do so, Lucy, Gray, Natsu and Erza entered the guild at the same time. As soon as they were seated, Fried shut off the bell. However Makarov began speaking before he had fully stopped the bell.
"Everyone. This situation is dire. I don't have much time. A child out of nowhere appeared out of a crack in the sky. And landed near my position. She... whoever she is, was terrible injured. A dagger had been stabbed through the center of her small body." This caused the crowd to gasp in shock at the news. "I have send her to Porlyusica. But she has run dry on crucial ingredients. And also required Wendy." Makarov looked at Wendy, who nodded at the mention. "Everyone else, you will collect these ingredients as fast as possible. A child's life is on the line."
"Understood." Erza said as she quickly took control. "Give me the list. I will distribute the people to collect and deliver the medication parts."
"Very well. Erza... you will take leadership. Mirajane, please temporarily halt all quests. This is an emergency quest that takes full priority." Makarov ordered.
"Understood, guild master." Mirajane replied.
"Good. Please hurry. This meeting is adjourned." Makarov said as he ended the meeting. And what happened next, could only bring a smile to his face. Ever single guild member approached Erza with great eagerness. Erza had quickly distributed all the tasks over everyone. Meanwhile Wendy had run off to assist Porlyusica without asking. And in mere moment, ingredient upon ingredient was both discovered, collected and delivered with post haste. Meanwhile everyone that wasn't collecting ingredients began investigating all the area's around Porlyusica's treehouse in order to remove any and all monster in order to give Porlyusica as much time and space as they could. Meanwhile Lucy was helping Wendy with some separate tasks that required no magic. But Natsu was unusually quiet as he just sat near the bar. Confused, Makarov approached Natsu.
"What is the matter, boy?" Makarov asked.
"Hey Gramps. That mention of a crack in the sky gave me some bad memories." Natsu mentioned. "Aye." An equally quiet Happy replied as well.
"Hm..." Makarov said out loud at the mention, "Now that you mentioned it. You think she is from Edolas?"
"No way!" Lisanna said as she came out of nowhere. "She... doesn't have that scent on her. No I doubt it. Sincere doubt it." she mentioned.
"Why do you think so? Didn't he also come here around that age?"
Lisanna hummed, "I see your point. But, somehow I genuinely doubt that she is from the same realm. We never did establish if those cracks were only connected to Edolas."
"Hm..." Makarov hummed also, "I see."
As Makarov and Lisanna were in deep thought, thinking about whether or now. Ruby came from Edolas. But after a while of moping, Natsu, who overheard the conversation, decided to chime in on the conversation. "Actually Gramps. I did sniff her on you. And I can confirm. This child is not from Edolas. Her smell doesn't match those from Edolas. Instead... her smell... is rather confusing?" he mentioned slightly confused himself.
"What do you mean?" This time Mirajane intervened. She was actually working behind the counter as she overheard the conversation.
"Well, it reminds me of dark magic. Not unlike those within the dark wizard guilds. And yet somehow, far more raw. Whatever she did, she got here while trying to sacrifice herself." Natsu offered.
"How would you know about something, that damning?" Lisanna asked confused.
"Just instinct, I guess." Natsu said, "I mean, why else would a three year old, have a dagger stuck in her body?"
Lisanna and Mirajane shook their head, "She is far too young for such a decision. Why would she do that?" Mirajane asked.
And while they discussed the impossibility of such an event. The rest of the guild was far too busy to argue. Lucy and Wendy both maintained and prevent Ruby from reaching an early death. And Porlyusice meanwhile finally completed the potion she needed to create in order to assist Ruby. Wasting no time, she put some of it in a glass of water. Which can only be given as soon as Ruby wakes up. And the rest she up on two special soakable tissues. Porlyusica looks at the sweating Wendy, and tired looking Lucy. As she nodded, somewhat pleased.
"Wendy step forwards, prevent any blood from flowing out the wound that the dagger will create as soon as I pull it out. Lucy I want you to stand clear." She ordered immediately. Wendy did so, without hesitation. Lucy nodded as she stood back a fair distance, but still close enough in which she can assist the doctor if things turn badly. Porlyusica noticed this as she nodded pleased at Lucy.
"Alright. Wasting no time. I will pull the dagger out and stick these tissues on them. On both sides, and without any hesitation. Ready?"
"Ready." Both girls responded.
Porlyusica then pulled the dagger out of the child's body. And as she mentioned, she placed both tissues on the child's body without hesitation and wasting any time. She was faster than the blood was given any time of leaving the child's body. She then used a bit of her own magic in combination with Wendy's magic to properly set the Thoracic Vertebrae back into its place. They restored it. Replenished the blood that was lost. And place the child out of its fetal position and spreading the child out. After a moment of waiting anxiously. The child relaxed. Showing that the operation was a success. Causing Porlyusica to sigh in relieve.
"Alright. I think she is healthy and safe. We can move her to the Fairy Tail infirmary. And allow her some much needed rest. Good job, Wendy you did well. You too, Lucy. Please move the child carefully back to the guild hall." Porlyusica requested.
"Leave the transportation to me." Lucy offered, "Wendy you must rest. You have been casting that healing spell for far too long."
Wendy huffed and puffed in exhaustion. "Alright. I will retreat back to Fairy Hill. Call for me, if you need more help." she said as she slowly walked back to her apartment. She just rediated of exhaustion. If Lucy wasn't busy moving an injured child, she would have moved Wendy herself. She was tired, but she has gone through worse. That said, Lucy had to end her previous break early. Causing some stress to have build up. So while she wasn't tired in itself. Her mind was starting to struggle a little. This wouldn't cause any immediate problems. But Lucy could sense the additional stress build up. Causing her to frown during her trip back to the guild.
After a seemingly calm walk back to the guild, Lucy entered a very quiet guild. Most of the members were still away. Allowing Lucy to quietly place the girl in the infirmary. Lucy looked at the child carefully a few more times. Only to exit it to head to the guildmaster inside the guildhall. She still needed to report things to gramps. Important things at that. As she walked over to the bar, an exhausted Lucy took a seat at the bar.
"Mirajane... Do you have coffee? I need something to keep me awake." Lucy questioned.
Mirajane smiled as she put a fresh cup of joe in front of Lucy. "Not normally. But seeing to the fact that you have been busy and then some. Gramps used his coffee machine to give you some coffee."
"This is drip fed?" Lucy asked with a raised eyebrow and while she took a sip.
Gramps nodded instead. "It is. How is the patient?"
"Healed. But still knocked out cold. She is in the infirmary." Lucy replied while taking a sip, "Gods. I am so tired."
"Then extend your vacation. Don't worry about the guild. We have plenty of others to help around the place." Gramps replied.
Lucy nodded, "I will. But I am still a bit worried about the child. Can you explain to me exactly. How did the child arrive?"
Gramps slowly nodded as he closed his eyes. "I was making my regular border walks. When out of nowhere, I heard a large bang. I looked up and saw that a crack in the sky had formed. But unlike those arrivals in Edolas. This time it was a beam of pure white magic that blasted down. It carried an severely injured child. The child had a dagger stuck in its abdomen. In fact that dagger was so long it extended out of the other end. Breaking the child's Thoracic Vertebrae in the process. The way the dagger was stuck in the child, suggested a fight had broken out and she jumped in front of the dagger. Signs of the dagger being moved before striking the child was visible. The child was obviously knocked out cold before she reached my arms. Suggesting that the child believed she would die from this. Thank the gods that didn't happen." He retold once more.
"A struggle, a fight, believing she died and saving another..." Lucy repeated as she looked into the abyss that was her cup of coffee. She then smiled, "I think she will mesh quite well with us."
"Hm?" Mirajane and gramps said at the same time.
"I assume that while we investigate a way to send her home, the child has to stay somewhere." Lucy stated, "Where else then here? She clearly has some kind of inate magic. And she doesn't mind playing hero and saving someone's life. It's an honorable act. Something that is quite normal for us to do." She then giggled, "Similar to Erza I guess. Oh and you Mirajane."
Mirajane and Gramps look at one another and smiled, "Alright. We will take her in." Gramps said.
"Yeah. A part of me believes that she wants to become stronger. She may not remember where she is from. But eventually she will get curious. And hopefully by then, we have found a way for her to go home." Lucy replied.
Mirajane nodded in agreement. "But who will teach her?"
"I vote for Mirajane and Erza. Erza the teacher, Mirajane the adoptive sister. How about that?" Lucy said smiling.
Gramps thought about it, "Let's vote together with the rest of the guild. Mirajane please use the bell that signify the end of the emergency." he requested. To which Mirajane replied by doing just that.
Lucy yawned, "But let's leave that to tomorrow. I am tired. People are tired of helping out. Let them refresh their mind and body first. Before we vote." She requested.
"Good plan. Let's do that." Gramps said in agreement. He then used his magic communicator to send that information to everyone. Lucy meanwhile was about to head back, when she heard moaning coming from the Infirmary. Something that seemed odd, since normally a child would be stuck in a deep sleep. And yet here she already heard and noticed signs that the child is waking up somewhat. She then looked back at the bar. Gramps was gone, but Mirajane noticed Lucy worried glance, causing her eye to rise in confusion.
Lucy then points at the infirmary, as if to signify that something is off. Mirajane then exits the bar and enters the Infimary together. They look at the child, and saw it struggling and sweating. It appears to be in an nightmare of sorts. Before Mirajane had a chance to comment on it, Lucy yawned again. This time Lucy was having serious difficulties staying awake. Lucy shook her head at Mirajane as she left the room to go home. Leaving Mirajane alone with a struggling child.
Unsure, Mirajane chose to pet the child's hair. Something that the child, despite her deep sleep, noticed. Causing the breathing to calm, and the struggling to end. Whatever she just did worked. Mirajane frowned, but chose to stay near the child for the time being.
