White Heart

It's Not Over

Once we made out of the mob of civilians running for their lives. I wish I were exaggerating.  Mothers cling to their babes while dragging their little boy and her eldest runs beside her. Fathers gathering their daughters in their arms. Men stealing whatever their neighbors had left behind. Children screaming. People racing. What is so bad that these people have to flee like this? Thankfully Sting refused to let go of my hand. He is dodging people left and right, pulling me along with him. As we struggle through the crowd, I can manage to see a group of wizards forming in the center of the city.

"Oh, there's Cana!" I shout up at Sting, "And Mira, Gramps!" I can see him nod slightly. My heart starts pounding. I'm not sure if I'm happy to see them after Fairy Tail's victory or terrified to see them because of the suspicious circumstances. Either way we race closer to them every second.

Finally we reach the gathering of people. Unfortunately Sing and I were late and had to stand in the back, so I couldn't make out much of what the small man upfront is saying. Then the crowd quiets.

"I'm afraid Fiore may soon be in the claws," the man begins, "Of the Dragon Horde." The crowd goes up in a roar of frantic concerns. My chest tightens at his words. "But we have a plan of action," the man continues, " We have the Eclipse Canon and it will wipe out the majority of them." A sudden sweat emerges upon my body. A chill crawl through my skin. Sting seems to notice my distress and turns to me.

"Hey!"  a voice shouts through before Sting could say anything, "What do you think you're doing with her?!" Oh boy someone's in trouble. "I'm talking to you, Saberslut!" The voice rises above the mob once more. Huh? Who would say that? Okay I mean besides me, but I had my reasons.  Wait a minute. The only other person that would be brave enough, or more accurately ,be drunk enough, to say something like that would be-

"Cana!" My voice betrays me as the young brunette emerges from the crowd. When she meets my eyes, I run up to the drunk, practically aiming to tackle her. In less than a beat she was doing the same. The moment we crash together, we can't help but laugh at our own stupidity.

"Where have you been?" Cana inquires. Her voice is gentle and almost soft. She pets my hair. Probably checking for injuries. I smile at her concerned actions.

"Has it really been that long?" I laugh.

"I was worried sick about you," her words held the same weight her eyes had, "And now I see I was right to do so." But that didn't last long. Cana pushes me aside and dives for Sting. Oh shit. This isn't going to end well.

"Ca-" But I was cut off my a large, muscular man. He grabs Cana's waist and pulls her back. The giant than lifts her above his head.

"Now a real man would learn how to carefully plan out an attack." I look up to see Elfman. The sweaty, smirking, brute himself. Poor Cana. She's flailing her body but Elfman makes no movement of weakness.  Of course she was giggling the whole time so I think she' fine. Even Elfman let our out a chuckle or two. It's nice to see everyone in such an energetic mood....considering. I'm not sure that they know. I mean how would they. But I can't think about that now. I can't. I have to keep moving forward. Leave my past behind me. No looking back.

"Hey pipsqueak," Elfman thunders over the crowd, "You okay?" I knew he was talking to me. That stupid lug always likes to comment on my height.  Idiot. But I'm happy he's here, that all of them are. I slap his back.

"Just fine," I sass, "You frickin' giant." His chuckles roar though the swarm of wizards around us. God I love his laugh. It kills me. I can't help but laugh along with him.  We laugh through the loudness of the crowd until the small man spoke again.

"As we speak a large scale counter offense is underway," he shouts to be heard over the thundering crowd of concerned wizards. "The Eclipse Cannon." His words rang throughout the courtyard.

"The Eclipse Cannon?" a small voice inquires. I turn my head to see a short girl with even shorter white hair standing on the other side of Elfman. It must have been Lisanna. I didn't get the chance to say anything to her yet...and now would just be kinda awkward. 

"We will use to wipe out the attacking dragons," the man thunders proudly, "All ten thousand of them at once." A collective gasp echoes in the square. H-How..? I-I mean a-all ten thousand of them? That's insane. From behind me I hear Sting take a couple steps towards me. I then feel two familiar arms wrap around me, making me bite my lip to hide an oncoming smile. I can't be seen giggling like a school girl at a time like this. Sting leans his head down beside my ear.

"It'll be fine," he whispers softly, "We have to trust our ruler."  Our ruler? Oh so that's who that small guy at the front is.  

Placing my hands on top of his arms, I let myself rest against his body. It's a nice feeling I won't lie. My eyes close for just a second. Sting's grip tightens slightly, making me want to smile more. I want to cherish this moment of safety a little longer before we go charging into battle again.