Phoenix

Testing Magic

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"A missing cat?"

Laxus grunted and continued weaving through the crowds near the harbor. Emi continued to ask questions.

"What kind of cat? Does it have stripes? Or maybe spots? Is it an indoor cat? Is that why it's so important to find it? Is the cat declawed? Where was—"

Laxus cut her off, "Black spotted, indoor declawed cat. Last seen in the market."

"That's horrible! We better hurry."

They continued to scan the area when Emi spotted a small tail peeking from an alleyway. She tugged Laxus's cloak and pointed to the alleyway before creeping over. Her cloak covered her from sight, so she was able to quickly grab and hold the cat as it squirmed in her arms.

"Got it!"

They both met with the cat's owner and handed the cat over to them.

"Say," the woman started, "you're the two cloaked people who help everyone around here, right? I've heard rumors about you from the townspeople."

Emi took off her hood and smiled at the woman, giving her a thumbs up. Laxus pulled Emi by the back of her cloak and forced her back into the forest.

"Why don't you ever let us stay around after we finish? They might think it's rude."

"Who gives a crap? We helped them and now we move on."

Emi shook her head and allowed Laxus to drag her away. Once they got to the forest, Emi's feet dug into the ground.

"What the hell are you doing? It's getting dark out."

"Can you carry me?"

"No."

"Come on, I'm tired and I think I'm getting a cold."

Emi "sneezed" and started to cough.

"Shut up. I know you're faking. You have got to be the least believable person when it comes to that."

"But you'll carry me anyway, right?"

"Hurry up before I change my mind."

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"Do you think I'll be able to make a magic circle?"

Laxus looked up from the pot he was cooking with and shrugged, saying she could try. Emi grabbed a pen and started writing on the kitchen tile.

"Not in here, brat! You're messing up the floor."

Emi huffed and grabbed her cloak to go outside to the clearing. She looked at the book and copied the runes on the circle. She looked at the script proudly before tossing a rock in the center. She closed her eyes as she braced for the loud boom, but nothing came.

"Oh come on!" Emi yelled frustrated. "I can't even set a rock on fire. This sucks!"

She stomped back into the house and sat down at the kitchen table with her arms crossed.

"Nothing?"

"Not even a spark!"

Laxus placed a plate of chicken in front of her before sitting down in his usual seat.

"Maybe magic just isn't for you—"

"That's stupid. Everyone should be able to use magic."

Laxus pointed to her food and urged her to eat. Emi mumbled something before looking up to Laxus and sighing.

"Can we go to the gardens?"

He chuckled and agreed to go once they finished.

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"Look at those ones!"

The dragon slayer rolled his eyes as Emi jumped to each patch. He couldn't help but be amused by her disposition.

He observed, "I'm surprised this place is still open with the snow."

"Well it's not too cold yet, so the flowers that are able to sustain colder weather are still here."

She pulled him over to a patch of daisies and picked one up.

"Uh, I don't think you should be doing that."

"They allow people to take one if it's a crowded patch. Besides, these will be dying soon."

She smiled and leaned on her toes to reach Laxus's head and put the flower on him.

"Get it off me."

"No," Emi laughed, "it looks good there. And it even matches your hair."

"It's a white flower. I have yellow hair."

Emi smiled brightly and ignored him, pulling him to the center of the gardens.

Everyone noticed that it was a similar scene to one of Emi's memories with Sting. They all looked over at him and saw that his lips were pressed together and he was glaring at the scene.

"Where are we going now?

"To the fountain! Don't you want to make a wish?"

Laxus rolled his eyes and handed her a couple coins that were left over from the job they took. He sat on the fountain and watched as she tossed the coins in.

"What did you wish—"

"I can't tell you. It won't come true."

"Are you ready to go now?"