#silverncko

If there was one thing Lisanna could count on, whether that be on Earthland or Edolas, was the existence and companionship of Fairy Tail. It’s status of dark or legal guild was irrelevant.

It had been the guild that took her and her siblings in without so much as a second thought, accepting their dreary past for what it was with no poking nor prodding. They were simply welcomed with open arms, as a true family would.

Even when she was yanked into Edolas she received the same, kind treatment, despite the fact that that world’s Mira and Elfman both later admitted to being aware that she was not the same Lisanna that they had grown up with. Fairy Tail was still there to care for and love her, regardless of the circumstances.

Now, however, as she sat alone at her desk rummaging through old photos painted by Reedus, she couldn’t help but allow a slight frown to mar her usually smiling lips, fingers grazing over the old parchment as though terrified that it too might dissolve without any warning.

For the first time in her life, Lisanna could not say that she had Fairy Tail to fall back on anymore, and it was… Strange, to put it simply. Not unlike the cold sensation that crept up one’s spine with the removal of a warm blanket shielding them from the frigidness of the air around them; a frightening jolt back to the reality of the world around them.

She supposed that it was for that reason that the soul mage now sat staring wordlessly at the container of memories, eyes flittering from one carefully preserved picture to the next in silent wistfulness.

The majority of the images depicted her with Natsu or her siblings, joyous faces devoid of the vaguely haunted tint that seemed to taint her comrade’s faces as of the late. Back when their sole concern tittered on whom was going to be elected for the upcoming S class trials.

It was only when three familiar yet contrasting faces caught her gaze that the girl paused in her movements, the next picture already pinched between her fingers being gently set back aside.

She had nearly forgotten the day Reedus had conjured this spectacle up, as it had been crafted so long ago. If she remembered correctly it had to have been painted during the first Fantasia parade since her return. That had also been the day that her close friendship with the Raijinshuu had been formed, the faces that time forgot smiling brightly back at her just as they had that day.

“C’mon, just try it – it’s great!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! This food is positively disgusting and terrible for my complexion – get that away from me or so help me Bixlow!”

Lisanna could only watch in unrestrained awe as the two Thunder Legion members bickered so childishly in front of her, the grin on the Seith mages’ face contrasting the deep scowl on Evergreen’s to an entertaining degree.

Originally she had just moved to speak to the three to extend a customary greeting, although the aforementioned disagreement broke out before she could so much as offer a single word of greeting to anyone other than Freed.

“Don’t be so boring, Ever~”

“Bixlow…!”

As the argument over the proffered corn dog continued, the girl couldn’t help but giggle, the soft smirk residing on Freed’s features enough of an indication that she shouldn’t take their little quarrel all that seriously.

“Do they usually act like this?” She had inquired once she was certain that their conversation had absorbed them to the point where they were not paying attention to their third teammate nor the comrade that they had only just bumped into, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen them like this…”

A mere smile served as the soul mage’s sole response for several moments as the green haired male seemed to be mauling over his words before speaking, his gaze still trained nonchalantly on his friends,

“Unfortunately.” Though she could not say she could detect anything even akin to regret in his tone, “I admit that they may take some getting used to, though I cannot say that I would have it any other way. This is merely who they are.”

For a minute the white haired female was a bit taken aback by the ease encasing the tone that had not long ago harvested nothing but disinterest and formality, eyebrows furrowing in confusion before lifting in silent wonderment. Even Freed was behaving differently – more open and friendly than before.

“You all really have changed.” She finally commented offhandedly, unable to suppress a following string of giggles as even Evergreen and Bixlow began to laugh at their antics, the care and fondness for one another evident within the fight that had just transpired.

They really had changed a great deal since she had last seen them… She didn’t think the Raijinshuu she had known only years prior would have behaved this way around others or if they would even behave this carefree. They used to be so high strung…

“Would you care to join us, Lisanna? We still have a good portion of the festival to visit.”

As she allowed her mind to reminisce over the story behind the photo, an unconscious smile spread across her lips, head leaning down to rest gently against her upturned palm. At the time none had been aware of Reedus witnessing their interactions, though it had been a pleasant surprise once they returned back to the guild that evening.

In the picture stood a thoroughly enthused Freed and Lisanna, their arms crossed and head tilted to the side in identical fashions as they watched Evergreen and Bixlow speak only feet in front of them, matching smiles having lightened their countenance as the corn dog that initiated the ruckus lay all but forgotten between them on the ground.

She had spent the rest of the day with them after that, enjoying the rides and games with them as though they were all good friends, and, in a way, Lisanna mused that they were, albeit not close.

From that day on the soul mage had begun to bond even further with the legion, getting to know them and not the façade that they had been so insistent on maintaining.

The small series of trinkets adorning the front of her desk served to prove as much, she remembered, gaze finally lifting from the picture to instead regard the three, miniature figures that each member of the Raijinshuu had gifted to her at one point or another.

The first to catch her gaze was the tiny wooden doll that Bixlow had hand crafted. The body was identical to that of his little puppets, although a cat tail and ears adorned the sides with hastily drawn whiskers decorating the figure’s face in crude resemblance of a feline.

Lisanna assumed that this particular trinket had been designed more for a joke than for sentimental reasons, as she sure it was made due to her evident fascination with the dolls that faithfully followed him, although she ultimately adored it regardless.

Beside it was the gift she had received from Ever during one of their increasingly popular ‘girls’ days; a small statue of a cat that Lisanna had jokingly asked if it was a product of her stone eyes. She, in response, had naturally received a snicker and a roll of her said eyes, however the smile on the fairy mage’s lips did not waver. It was Evergreen’s way of expressing her friendship, the white haired girl was certain.

The following and last novelty was a book on shifting magic that Freed had acquired for her on a job. At the time he had claimed to have merely happened upon it in a bookstore, although she knew it was far more than that, as the novel itself was limited in production and had been a story she had been searching for months for. It touched her to know that he would actively seek out a product that she had mentioned in passing only weeks prior.

All three of the decorations were so mundane in appearance, yet they meant more to her than she could voice in words, solely because of what they each represented.

The Raijinshuu, whom still kept more to themselves than the others, welcomed her presence in a way that they did not for many, and those items only solidified the authenticity of their friendship.

Humming the soft tune to a song foreign even to her, Lisanna gently placed the objects of her fascination back down, the frown that had plagued her features only minutes’ prior now replaced by a small smile.

Since Fairy Tail’s disbandment, she rarely saw her friends anymore, as they, along with Laxus, had opted to join Blue Pegasus and thus were now too far to visit daily. However, they still visited her as often as they were able and she them.

Things truly were different now, and, while she still was not entirely in favor of their master’s decision, she felt a newfound sense of understanding as to Makarov’s decree.

“Lisanna! Are you ready to leave yet?”

The sudden ringing of Mira’s tone throughout the small house they had bought together upon moving out of Fairy Hills caused the soul mage to jolt slightly, eyes blinking listlessly at the pile of photos still crowding her table. She had almost forgotten that her sister was waiting for her.

“Yes, sorry! I’ll be right down!”

Quickly moving to gather the paintings into a small group, the youngest Strauss sibling was surprised to find the dull atmosphere that had been weighing her shoulders down for the past week had all but dissipated.

Fairy Tail had surpassed tougher obstacles than this and, just like in the past, she was now certain that this would not be the end of the guild that had brought her so much love and happiness. Not so long as she still held onto the relationships – however unlikely- that she had formed with the others. She would not lose any of them- she couldn’t afford to lose any of them.