Fairy Ninja Maiden Remake

A New Dawn

The gentle rustle of fabric and the warm scent of roasting meat coaxed Erza from her slumber. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she found herself in a large, colorful tent. The vibrant hues danced with the light of a crackling campfire, illuminating the surroundings in a soft glow.

Ah, you're finally awake," a familiar voice chimed, drawing Erza attention.

Erza turned her head to the left and met the bright gaze of Naomi, who was crouched near the fire, expertly skewering a freshly caught shark over the flames. Erza blinked, momentarily taken aback by the absurdity of the scene. 

Uh... what happened?" Erza asked, her voice thick with confusion.

Naomi giggled softly, flicking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. "You ran away from me," she explained, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I went looking for you. After a while, I found you on a boat that a huge wave had capsized."

Erza's heart sank as she remembered the chaos: the violent crashing of water, the destruction of the tower, and the terror that had gripped her as the world around them vanished. "So you pulled me onto dry land? Thank you, Onee-san."

Naomi gave a small, reassuring smile. "No problem Erza."

A weight settled heavily in Erza's chest as she thought of Rob, the courageous man who had always stood by her side. "Rob died," she whispered, a crack in her voice as tears pooled in her eyes. "He was... he was trying to protect me."

Naomi's expression softened, her voice turning gentle. "I'm so sorry, Erza. I found out that no one from the tower survived. It was... completely destroyed."

The quiet stillness that followed felt as oppressive as the waves that had swept them away. Erza felt the tears escape her eyes, slipping down her cheeks as grief washed over her. She wrapped her arms around her knees, trying to hold herself together as the sorrow enveloped her.

With a trembling breath, Erza whispered, "Fairy Tail."

Naomi looked up, a puzzled frown on her face. "What's 'Fairy Tail'?"

Rob told me about it," Erza said, her voice cracking as she thought of the promises they had made. "He said it was a guild that treats everyone like family. They stand by each other, no matter what."

Naomi nodded, intrigued. "That sounds... wonderful."

I want to go and join that guild," Erza declared, her resolve igniting the spark of hope within her. "To honor Rob and everyone we lost. It's what they would have wanted."

Naomi met her gaze, her eyes shining with understanding. "I'd like to join you, Erza. I don't want you to go through this alone."

Really?" Erza felt a rush of warmth course through her. "You'd come with me?"

Naomi grinned. "Of course. We'll stick together, just like Rob would have wanted." 

With that, they shared a comforting silence, allowing their thoughts to drift together under the starlit sky. The crackling fire and the distant sounds of the ocean formed a soothing backdrop to their conversation.

As the night began to wane, sleepiness settled in, tugging at their eyelids. The promise of a new journey filled the space between them—a journey toward healing, friendship, and a future where they could forge their own family, just as they had dreamed.

Let's get some rest," Naomi suggested, her voice softer now.

Erza nodded and settled down on her bedroll beside Naomi. As they nestled in, Erza felt an unfamiliar sense of peace. With her new friend turned older sister by her side and the memory of Rob lighting their path ahead.

With one last glance at the fading flames, Erza closed her eyes, ready to embrace whatever awaited her at the end of the night.