Fallen Petals (a Fairy Tail fanfic)

Chapter Five (Looking for Answers)

Before we could go anywhere, we had to find Sunshade. I saw Horatio once more as we entered the town square, handing out mail to the fellow townsfolk. He might know where Sunshade is.

I headed towards him while Erza and the others look around. As the sun hit the city, it glittered like jewels. Almost like Dragon Tears...

Horatio looked up as i neared. Beside him was Coal helping with the mail delivery. I dipped my head towards them.

"Hello, Natsu! What do you need?" Horatio asked. "Anything for the hero that will save my granddaughter."

"Just looking for Sunshade," i replied. "We think she can help us."

"Oh, i can take you to where she is," Horatio said. "Finish up the mail, Coal. Don't mess anything up!"

"I won't, sir!" Coal replied, going back to sorting.

Horatio beckoned the others near, and he led us into another part of Town. Claw scratches scored the ground and sand. I didn't understand what it was until i saw a cat, dressed like the Guard Sunshade told us about, leap at a dragon (A DRAGON) with her sword in hand. She slashed at the ground near the dragon's claws as the dragon moved and swung her tail at the cat. The cat flew through the air, bounced off a tree, and resumed attacking.

"Welcome to the training grounds," Horatio said. "Here is where the guard trains. The dragon determines if you are ready to join the guard or not. Dragons are strong creatures, who lead us."

"What happens if you are ready and when you are not?" Lucy asks.

"If you're not, the dragon (whoever it is that determines if you're ready) just tells you to train more, that it'll be an honor to fight alongside you once you mastered whatever skill you need," Horatio explains. "If you're ready, the dragon tells you that its a honor to fight alongside such a strong guard. Then, you get a dragonician tattoo/mark on yourself." He nods towards the cat. "You'll see soon, because Hailey has just shown her worth."

The dragon and the cat were soon facing each other. The dragon drew herself to full height, before telling Hailey she was ready to become a member of the guard. I saw how her eyes lit up hearing that. Before long, a dragon type mark appears on her arm. She bows towards the dragon, promising to protect the woods. The dragon returns the favor.

When Hailey left, the dragon noticed us and walks our way. She dips her head towards us, but she bowed at Horatio's feet. I understood, since he was a king, stepping down when his daughter came of age and the queen died.

"Horatio. Who's your friends?" the dragon asked.

"These are the wizards that will bring Hisakata home," Horatio replied. "They are from the guild Fairy Tail, the continent they live on called Fiore."