"Listen up, everyone!"
Gabbriel let out a huff as Fairy tail's guild master spoke loud enough for all of them to hear. She was sitting at a table with her brother across from her. Surprisingly, Levy was sitting to her left as they talked about books and non-important things. Levy's two bodyguard - Drett and Joy, Gabbey still didn't remember their names - were glaring lightly at the two Redfoxes. They weren't as harsh as they use to be anymore though.
"What's the old geezer gotta say now?" Gabbriel muttered, making Levy smack her arm gently.
"Shush!"
"Those who call themselves wizards shall ne'er neglect sharpening their skills!" Makarov continued. Even standing on the bar counter, Gabbey could still be taller than him. They shall polish their techniques, and perform jobs on request! And they must earn their daily bread!"
"Lets get this bread," Gabbey muttered lowly, causing Gajeel to snort.
"For as there be sunny days, surely there be rainy ones! For as there be days in which work is finished without trouble, surely there be days which are naught but an uphill struggle!" He paused. "However! No matter what happens, tomorrow will always come! And we shall continue to walk the path, as wizards! That's what it means to be a Fairy tail wizard!"
Makarov threw up the symbol of Fairy tail, making everyone cheer and do the same. Levy did so proudly, shoving her elbow into Gabbey's ribs when she noticed that the Dragon Slayer wasn't doing it.
Gabbey huffed again, holding her hand up mockingly as she took a gulp from her mead.
"Everyone, you've worked really hard this past year! And so, in honor of your hard work, tomorrow will be the long await. . .super-fun hanami party! Today we'll have a pre-celebration!"
As the rest of the guild cheered and got the beer ready - meaning Levi, Drew, and Jolt bouncing away excitedly - Gajeel and Gabbriel watched with non amusement. As soon as people started to sit down with their buddies, the twins stood up in sync and walked over to the mission board. Which, was barely even filled like usual.
"This is messed up." Gajeel stated, grinding his metal bolts.
"No kidding," Gabbey replied, snapping a metal bar in half.
"Everyone, please take it easy since tomorrow's the read deal." Mirajane warned her guildmates.
"I don't even know what this 'hanami party' thing is!"
"I don't get these people," Gajeel grunted. "Everyone's acting like their heads are in the clouds. It's just cherry blossom season, sheesh!"
"Yo, skulls, pick a job already," Gabbey ordered the tanned man with a skull necklace around his neck.
"Oi, Juvia, what's wrong?" Gajeel grumbled, making Gabbey take notice that the usual perky blue was in a depressed grey tone.
"Gray-sama. . .Gray-sama went off on a job!" She cried. "Juvia can't believe how lonely the guild is without Gray-sama here!"
"He can't help it, okay? He's a Fairy tail wizard!" Skulls commented.
"Like you can say anything!" Gajeel retorted.
"But Juvia's been left behind!"
"Well, Gray's formed a team with Natsu and the others, so that's just how it is." Skulls tried to explain.
"But they took Wendy and Carla with them!"
"Huh, that's where the kid went." Gabbey mumbled.
"It's so they can get used to our guild's jobs, since they did just transfer from Cait Shelter."
"Juvia knows. . .Juvia knows. . .but she's sad!"
Gabbey let out a groan of annoyance as Juvia's tears started to rain on everyone. "Oh my god!"
"Juvia, seriously?!"
"Now I'm all wet!"
With a groan, Gabbey shook her hair like a dog would, water splattering everywhere. "Hey, look, do you need a distraction or something?! 'Cause I was gonna go on a trip real quick and get some things."
"A-A trip?" Juvia murmured, sniffling.
"Yes, a trip. Back to Oak Town, I gotta get somethings there."
"Oak Town?" Gajeel repeated with a grunt.
"Is there an echo?" Gabbey sighed. "Yes, Oak Town. I was gonna see if you two would like to come with." Her smirk widen and she looked at Gajeel. "I could even invite Levy if you'd like. . ."
"Oi! You better shut your face right this minute!"
"J-Juvia would very much like to go on a trip with you, Gabbey," Juvia stammered out before a fight could start. "Are we going now?"
"If you guys wanna make it back before midnight, yeah." Gabbey shrugged. "Just thought you guys could use some sleep."
"Well, what are we waiting for?"
🌹🌹🌹
The train ride up to their old town was nothing worth noting for. The three of them caught up on issues that has happened within the last couple months of being in Fairy tail. They joked, laughed, even played a small game of Truth or Dare. They had fun - especially the twins.
The two Redfoxes never really relaxed at Fairy tail, not wanting to show their true selves in front of the ex-enemy. But around Juvia, they let loose. Juvia knew almost everything about them and the same for her. Juvia even knows about their bond - which she named herself, The Twin Bond.
Juvia even knew what happened that day.
"Juvia hasn't been here in a while!" The said bluenette chirped as they walked off the train. Oak Town was just as it was the last time the trio were living there. Expect, it was much more livelier.
Of course, when a town has gotten rid of a border-line dark guild, things do seem to turn for the better.
"I remember eating there," Gajeel commented as they pass by an old cafe by the name of Anteiku.
"They had the best coffee," Gabbriel added, making the other two hum in agreement. "It's not a big surprise that it's still runnin'"
"If anything, it seems to have gotten busier," Juvia noted, seeing as the door opened almost every five seconds.
The trio continued to walk, commenting about the changes the town has gone through and how busy seemed to have picked up greatly. But the closer they got to their destination, the town started to thin out.
Their conversation seem to grind to a halt as they stopped in front of the broken down double doors. Their old guild hall; Phantom Lord.
Although Phantom Lord's guild hall was destroyed, it was still moved back to the place it once stood. But, they weren't there for the guild hall.
After staring at their past home for a moment longer, they walked along side the broken stone wall until they saw a different building not too far away. It was a three story building that the guild members of Phantom Lord could rent out - like the Fairy Tail inn.
The three ex-members didn't bother to stare at their old home, just continued through the doors - which were kicked down - and into the empty building. Unlike the last time they saw it, the building was torn apart. Vases were shattered, paintings were missing, and as they went up the stairs, doors were kicked down.
"The members must have ransacked the place after Phantom Lord fell," Gabbriel finally spoke.
"Juvia thinks so too," Juvia agreed, stepping around something of shattered glass. "Hopefully, what we came here for is still here."
"Better be," Gajeel growled. "Or we're gonna have to hunt some people down,"
"I think we'll be fine," Gabbey stopped in front of a door that was still locked. "They were afraid of us, so they probably didn't even attempt to steal from us. See, they didn't even touch Juvia's door."
"Lets meet up outside," Juvia said as she forced the door to her old room open. "Juvia will be right back,"
The water mage disappeared into her room, whilst the twins stared their own door down. "Wanna do the honors?"
Without another word, Gajeel kicked the door down. The twins walked into the room and looked around. The room looked exactly like it did whenever they left, dust gathered on every surface. Gajeel squeezed Gabbriel's hand before wondering to his room. Slowly, Gabbey made her way to her own room and opened the door.
It squeaked slightly as it opened, but everything else was still in her room. Bed was still a mess, clothes were laying everywhere, and the holes that Gabbey had punched into the walls were still there. She made her way over to a chest that was at the end of her bed, tapping her thigh before crouching down and opening it. Blankets were the first thing she saw, and the first thing she took out of the chest. She set the blankets on the bed before gazing back into the chest.
Random objects and nick-nacks settled into the chest made her chuckle lowly, her hand brushing over random objects before stopping at a frame. With a gentle touch, Gabbey pick the frame up to look at it.
A short black-haired girl with grey eyes posed in an unusual way, hands on her head like she was a bunny. Her mouth was open, like she was about to say something to the girl next to her. The girl next to the beauty was another black-haired girl, although much taller. Her eyes were red and gleamed with mirth - most likely from whatever she said to the other girl before the picture was taken. The background was full of buildings - one of them actually being Anteiku.
Gabbriel let out a low sigh, running her fingers over the picture delicately before placing it to her left and continued to dig through the mess. She grabbed other things; clothes, random objects, jewelry that cost too much to just lay around, and of course blankets. By the time she had everything tucked into one of the last bags she left behind, Gajeel was at her door way.
"Got it?" He asked. Gabbey nodded in reply, grabbing her bag and throwing it over her shoulder. "Alright. Lets get Juvia and go home."
🌹🌹🌹
"I still don't see the hype over all of this."
"Oh, come on, Gabbey! Relax, let loose! It's time to have fun!"
"See my face? I'm enthused."
Gabbriel watched as Levy puffed her cheeks out, glaring at the girl who held cookies in her hand. Store bought - The Redfox girl couldn't bake a single thing to save her life.
"Gabbey, I thought you said you would try!"
"I'm here, aren't I? Gajeel didn't even bother to come to start things off, said he'll show up after noon," Gabbey let out a sigh as Mira walked around with a grin.
"Now everyone, eat up all you want!"
Levy pulled Gabbriel to sit down on a rug that Dred and Jit were sitting on, just has Elfman shouted; "Hanami is a man!"
"I don't get what that means?" Levy asked.
"Levy, you want something to eat?" Jew asked, Dray instantly following up with a, "Levy, you want something to drink?"
"I'm going to go jump off a cliff," Gabbey stated, starting to stand up.
"No!" Levy grasped onto Gabbey's gloved arm, trying to pull the taller girl back down to sit. "At least stay until the trees light up! I swear, you won't regret it!"
"Are you scared of a little fun, Bolts?" Gray teased from his rug - Erza, Natsu, Happy, Wendy, Carla, and Juvia not too far away. "Trying to run back into your hiding hole?"
"At least I don't strip everywhere I go," Gabbey retorted, gesturing to Gray's bare chest. Her smirk grew a bit as she continued. "Though, I don't really mind. Seeing those pecks would make any girl swoon."
"Gabbriel!!" Juvia screeched from her spot next to Gray - who was desperately trying to find a shirt now. "Don't say such things to my Gray-sama!"
"I'm just saying what's on everyone's mind!"
"Gabbey!!!!"
"And now, we'll begin the traditional hanami bingo tournament!" Mirajane announced cheerfully, saving Gabbriel from being maimed.
"Bingo!" Everyone cheered.
". . .Bingo?"
"We've got a bunch of high quality prizes again this year!" Makarov exclaimed. "Everyone, give it everything you got!"
Once again, everyone cheered and got their bingo cards out. Gabbey blinked slowly, turning to Juvia who looked just as confused. "A Bingo tournament?"
"That's what Juvia believes Mirajane said. . ."
"Do you not know how to play Bingo, Gabs?" Levy turned towards her friend, watching as Gabbey scanned her own bingo card she was given.
"I. . .I don't remember ever playing this." She admitted.
"Well, I can help ya out! It's pretty easy to understand once you get a hang of it."
"I'll take your word for it. . ."
"Everyone ready?" Mira asked.
"Aye, sir!"
"Then, please punch out the center circle!"
"What are the prizes anyway?" Gabbey asked curiously, looking around as everyone hyped themselves up.
"Just gifts that everyone brought her themselves." Levy explained. "Now, every time Mira calls out a letter and a number that you have, you punch out the number it's in. If you get five in a row, you yell 'Bingo!', got it?"
". . .Sure. . ."
"Don't worry Gabbey, you got this!"
"Lets bingo!" Mira exclaimed.
"The first number is. . ." Makarov paused, waving his hand and making the machine spin. Once it was fast enough, a small firework popped out and exploded into a number. "Twenty-four!"
"Alright! Right off the bat!" Cana grinned, making Levy look over.
"What incredible luck. . ."
"So do you just. . .?" Gabbey pressed the number twenty-four and made a little hole in the card.
"Wow! You too, Gabbey? You must have beginners luck!" Levy smiled.
"You got this Levy!" Det and Joy cheered their small friend/crush on.
🌹🌹🌹
It was nearing the end of the bingo tournament, and the prizes were running out. Gabbey watched with amusement as the number one hundred and fifteen popped into the air, and three different voices call out Bingo!
"Oh, a three way tie?" Makarov noted. "Then I'll give the prize to whoever makes me laugh the most with a single gag."
"A single gag?!" Levy, Juvia, and Elfman echoed in surprise.
"The prize is a pair of tickets to a fancy hotel at Akane Resort for 3 days and 2 nights!" Mira announced.
"Whoa!" Levy awed.
"Vacation for two?!" Ket and Dret exclaimed excitedly.
"Akane Resort, huh? I'll give it as a present to my sister!" Elfman declared.
"Together with Gray-sama for 3 days and 2 nights?" Juvia blushed heavily. "Juvia isn't ready for such. . ."
A strumming of a guitar caused everyone to pause and look around. Sitting in a white suit with his handy guitar was Gabbriel's twin, Gajeel.
"A single gag." Gajeel recited. "Truly a one-shot battle on the edge." Another strum. "And that means it's my turn partner."
"You again?!"
"Get outta here! You ain't even close to a bingo!" Elfman shouted.
"Go Gajeel!!" Gabbey cheered. "That's my brother!"
A win for Elfman and another bout of numbers later, the final number was shot into the air and called out by Mira.
"Seventy-one!"
"Dang," Levy muttered dejectedly as she searched for the said number. "I haven't gotten a single number since my last bing- Hey!"
"Levi has a bingo," Gabbriel called out careless, switching her bingo card out for Levy's and giving the shorter girl her old card.
"Gabbey-!"
"Congrads, Levy!" Mira cheered, acting like she didn't see the swap in the first place. "You just won a free trip to Heavenly Spa Service with any number of friends you'd like to take!"
"But, it was Gabbey-"
"Here ya go!" Makarov shoved the coupon into Levy's hand and waved his arms. "That was the final prize!"
There were groans of annoyance and disappointment before everyone started to get there drinks and food - going back to celebrating.
Levy held the coupon in her hand and turned to face the Redfox twin. The said girl was turned the other way, the evening light reflecting off of her shiny hair.
"Gabbey, this should have been yours!"
"I didn't want it," Gabbey replied nonchalantly. "Besides, you did want to win a prize from this Bingo thing, now you did."
"Thank you," Levy smiled. "You didn't have too. . ."
"Don't mention it." Gabbey paused. "Please, really, don't mention it."
"Sure, whatever you say!"
Many hours later - as the dusk turned into night - and several drinks later, Gabbriel sat back and watched the Fairy tail guild celebrate under the rainbow sakuras'. It was really beautiful and Gabbey almost expressed how she was glad she decided to join everyone.
She sipped her drink from the mug, she really couldn't tell you what number of alcohol it was cause she lost count as soon as she hit double digits. Gabbey was a little tipsy - it actually took a lot for her to get drunk. Even longer to get shit-faced.
A tap on her shoulder knocked her out of her mindless thoughts, and she look over her shoulder to see who it was. Much to her surprise, it was Natsu.
"Hey. . ." Natsu furrowed his eyebrows as if he was in pain to say what he needed to say. "I. . .Could you. . .Agh!"
"Spit it out, Salamander," Gabbey sighed, pushing herself to stand up and look at the younger man. "If it makes it easier, I ain't gonna make fun of you."
"Fine! I need your help!" Natsu finally spat it out, looking at the ground whilst fuming.
"Help with what?"
Natsu blinked in surprise at Gabbriel's neutral reply, honestly expecting her to start laughing at his face. "Er, Lucy ended up coming down with a cold. . .She really wanted to see the rainbow sakura, but she's stuck at home. . ."
"So you want to help her?" Gabbey guessed, huffing when Natsu nodded. "How do you plan on doing that?"
"I was going to dig up one of the trees, set it on a boat, and let it flow down the canal close to Lucy's apartment." Natsu explained, narrowing his eyes at Gabbey. "Look, if you're not going to help, I'll just do it myself-"
"I never said I wasn't going to help," Gabbey interrupted with a snap, flicking Natsu lightly on the head. "Hold your fucking horses, flames! When do you want to do this?"
"After everyone starts to leave," Natsu replied instantly. "Gramps would get mad if he found out what we were doing. . .That is, if you are going to help me."
Gabbey paused, swirling her drink. "Natsu, has Igneel ever told you about mates?"
Natsu blinked in surprise at the sudden comment. "Oh, he explained a little bit of it to me. . .I don't really remember much though. . ."
"Have you found your mate yet?"
"I don't think so, but I believe they're around here somewhere."
That's all that Gabbriel needed to hear. She threw back her drink in one gulp and dropped the mug. "Alright, lets just hurry up and do this."
As Natsu walked off, Gabbey couldn't help but grin. Natsu had found his mate, he was just too dense to see it. Finding your mate wasn't something that was very noticeable for any Dragon Slayer, or any mage for that matter. But Gabbriel could tell that Natsu had found his mate.
Because what Natsu was doing for Lucy was something that Gabbriel would have done for her own mate.
***So, I'mma go off the anime for the next couple chapters and for the Edolas Arc, and after that I'mm go back to the manga. I might switch back and forth - because the manga mostly follows Team Natsu - while the anime gives more insight to Gajeel's side, which is where Gabbriel is most of the time. Just a heads up!