My Light and My Darkness

A Happy Birthday?

-----------Two Months Later-----------

I slowly open my eyes to see the sunlight seeping through my dorm room window, Rosie still asleep next to me. I stretch my arms not entirely ready to get out of bed, until I realize something. Jumping out of bed I suddenly shout, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!" Rosie jumps suddenly, falling out of bed. Whoops. "Candy....did you have to wake me up so abruptly?" She asks me yawning, and rubbing her eyes while sitting on the ground. "I'm sorry Rosie, I didn't mean to wake you up so suddenly." She finishes rubbing her eyes and looks up at me smiling. "It's ok, you have every right to be happy. Happy 13th Birthday Candy!" She flies over to me and hugs me, which I return. "Do you think anyone in the guild might surprise you?" I just chuckle awkwardly, "Oh uh, I actually didn't remind anyone, like at all. So I don't know." She looks up at me curiously, "Wait, but last year you spent everyday leading up to it reminding everyone." I just chuckle awkwardly again while looking away from her. "Yeah, and remember what happened? It's an experience I would rather not relive." Last year was the first time I told anyone in the guild when my birthday was, and lets just say everyone was extremely quick to compete for best present gifter. It was utter chaos and everyone kept dragging me everywhere and I eventually had to knock a random person out on 'accident' to distract Erza so I could sneak away and hide from them. No one saw me again for the next 4 days because I was too scared they would bombard me again. Laxus thought the whole thing was hilarious and just let it happen when he could've easily helped me. Jerk. I'm hoping this year, no one will remember if I didn't remind them. That's how I am at least, if someone doesn't remind me of something important, I won't even know about it.

Rosie and I left our room and headed to the guild hall hesitantly. When we got to the guild, I noticed Laxus was back from yet another job that he took without us. As I went over to greet him he looked in my direction and smiled, "Hey kid, good to see you. Also, Hap-" I immediately put my hand over his mouth to shut him up. "SHHHH!!! Jerk! Don't announce that to everyone! Don't you remember what happened last year?!" He removed my hand from his face and just smirked at me, "Yeah I know, and I was hoping to see it again. You have no idea how much joy that day brought me. Consider it my payback for you always doing your best to get on my nerves." I just look at him with a pouty face and cross my arms. "Yeah, but you're funny to mess with. It's not funny to mess with me." He just bursts out laughing and says, "Yes it is! You just kept giving me that face you're giving me right now, bombarded with presents from other people. It was the first time since I met you when you didn't know what to say. It was so funny!" Ugh, this stoopid swine. "Ok, since you're in the Thunder Legion, I'll keep quiet, but I can't make any promises for Cana over there." He points toward Cana and when I look over at her she's drinking a bottle of ale, as usual. When she finished with her drink, she looked in my direction and winked at me. Oh god, once she gets buzzed enough, she's gonna tell everyone. Laxus suddenly breaks me from my thoughts and says, "Well, if you want to stay here today be my guest. But I'm heading up to the mountains to get away from this noisy guild." I snap my head in his direction, where he's already walking away. I take off after him shouting, "Hey! Wait up!! Take me with you! I don't wanna stay here today!!!" He just chuckles and doesn't say anything as I follow him out of the guild hall.

A walk to the mountains from the Fairy Tail guild hall is definitely long, but for two dragon slayers, it's better than a vehicle of some kinds. Rosie is flying alongside us as we're walking through the forest just outside of Magnolia when Laxus finally speaks up after staying silent for the entire walk; "I've got a plan for the guild, and I need the Thunder Legion's help to carry it out." He doesn't even spare me a glance as I look up at him. "Okay. What's the plan?" He smirks slightly and looks at me, "We're going to fix the guild. Fairy Tail is the strongest guild in Fiore, and after what happened to the guild hall during all of that stuff with Phantom Lord, it's clear the guild needs some revising and editing. I'm sick of walking down the street and getting looks of pity and disgust." He's now glaring ahead of him as he keeps walking. He's getting angry, I can tell. I just keep silent and look at Rosie. I'd do anything for Laxus and the Thunder Legion, but I don't entirely agree with him that the guild needs to be fixed. He looks at me again, "So? Will you help me become the new master of Fairy Tail?" By now we've stopped walking, I look up at him and after some hesitation I say this, "Of course I will. You're my leader and practically my big brother. I'll help you with whatever you need me to help you with. No matter what it is." He smiles, not a smirk like usual, this is an actual grateful smile. "Thanks kid. I know the old man is my grandpa, but the day he turned his back on my dad was the day he severed our relationship." He looks down at the ground with a hint of sadness in his eyes. I don't say anything. I don't need to. I know what he needs right now. I just hug him, surprising him. "I understand. There's nothing wrong with being upset about that. If that happened to me, I'd be upset too. There's a reason why we're called the Thunder Legion. We'll do anything you ask us and support you no matter what." He hugs me back and says, "Yeah I know. That's why I picked you guys to be in the Thunder Legion. I trust you guys." I just smile and back out of the hug. "Ok, ok, enough of the mushy stuff. Why don't you tell me how this plan will play out while we keep walking towards the mountains." He smirks this time and nods his head in the direction of the mountains, and we keep walking.