The Problem Child (Fairy Tail Fanfic)

Wistful

{NADIA'S POV}
Everything hurts. I remember this feeling. I cough, my lungs protesting as I breathe in soot and ash from the air.

"Nadia!" I hear Dad calling for me.

"Here." I choke out.

He appears by my side, and squeezes me in a bear hug. "Don't ever do that again."

"Okay, okay, I promise. Now if I could only... breathe." I say, grimacing as Dad touches a tender spot. He pulls back, noticing my pain.

Reiki appears on my other side and begins healing me. I'm so glad Aunt Wendy taught him sky magic. As soon as he's done, he respectfully backs off and lets Mom take his place. She hugs me hard.

"Let's go home." Mom says. My parents slowly help me to my feet.

"Nadia!" Nashi jumps out of the rubble, and runs toward me. With a flying leap, she knocks me back down to the ground and crashes down on top of me. "I'm so glad you're alive!"

"My broken ribs and I are happy to see you too." I groan, clutching my torso in pain.

"But what happened?" Nashi looks back at what remains of Akuhei Tanaka.

"Zoey shot him with a bunch of arrows. It's like the story of Dad, Aunt Erza, and Uncle Gray fighting Lullaby. They poked so many holes in it that the demon couldn't play it's song. Well, Zoey poked so many holes in Akuhei Tanaka before he exploded that it lessened the effect. Plus I was able get away from him and shield myself." I explain, then look down at myself. "Not very well, I see."

"You're alive, and that's all that matters." Mom laughs, and she sounds like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders.

"Yeah." I nod.

"Nadia!" The rest of the guild trickles from the cracks. They take turns hugging me. Aunt Wendy finishes the job that Reiki started, and after that I feel much better.

We make our way to the guild hall, where my classmates from Castilla Town wait.

"Yo." I wave at them.

"Well, Natalie, or I suppose you're Nadia, I must say it was quite a shock to learn who you are." Mrs. Ringle crosses her arms and arches an eyebrow.

"Your crush makes a lot more sense now, Nadia." One of the boys snickers.

"Who?" Reiki asks, and perhaps it's my imagination, but he sounds a little bit jealous. My classmates smirks grow wider.

"Well—"

"You," I glare at them, face burning, "can shut up."

"Yes ma'am!" They all jump to attention. Then everyone laughs.

*timeskip after Fantasia (which Nadia participated in, after announcing she was alive to the shocked public by doing an exclusive interview with Jason from Sorcerer Weekly)*

{NASHI'S POV}
I race to the train station. That idiot! Who does she think she is, leaving a note telling us that she's returning with her classmates to Castillia Town?

I get there right as the train is getting ready to depart. Nadia hasn't noticed me yet but her classmates back away to give me room.

"Nadia Dragneel!" I shout. She jumps and stumbles, face planting on the platform.

"Nashi!" She yelps. "What are you doing here? I thought you were asleep!"

"I was. Someone woke me up not-so-stealthily sneaking out window. Your cries of pain probably woke the whole neighborhood up."

"Oh." Nadia squeaks, blushing in embarrassment. I hold her note in my trembling clenched fist.

"Nashi!" Layla calls. "Where are you? What's wrong? The last time you ran out of the house like that was when Dad—oh." She sees Nadia holding her luggage in front of the train.

"Layla! Help me convince Nadia to stay!" I yell.

Layla looks pained. "It's not our decision."

"Layla?" I look at her in disbelief. Is she saying we should just let Nadia waltz out of our lives again? After we finally got her back? After I finally made things right?

"Sorry Nashi. I've got to go back to Castillia Town. I've just got to." Nadia says.

The train whistle blows, and Nadia joins her classmates on the train.

I watch until it disappears on the horizon, then fall to my knees. I punch the platform till it cracks and my knuckles are bloody and raw. "Damn it!"

"Nashi..." Layla trails off, touching my shoulder lightly. I look up at her with teary eyes.

"We let her go again, Layla."

*a few hours later*
{NADIA'S POV}
I sit on the train with Cindy, Anya, and Rio.

"Are you really sure about this?" Cindy asks. "You'll miss them."

"Yeah." I look at my hands, clasped tightly in my lap. Goodbyes are never easy. They looked so sad as I got on the train.

"Well," Anya smiles, "we're here, right?"

"Yeah. That was something I just had to do." I smile back bittersweetly.

It's a long silent ride between Castillia Town and Magnolia. I twiddle my thumbs nervously, wondering how everyone will react when I get home. I've been lying to them all this time. They have every right to be angry.

No! I shake my head frantically, trying to dispel the negative thoughts welling up inside me. We're all family. Right?

The whistle blows at our stop, startling me. I quickly grab my luggage and, taking a determined breath, step onto the platform.

I walk through the familiar streets, past all the familiar places of my childhood. I've spent a lot of time in these streets.

I look over my shoulder at my three best friends. They push me forward encouragingly.

"You decided to come back here of your own free will. Don't tell me you're chickening out now." Rio frowns with disapproval.

"Yeah! We got your back!"

Finally, we reach that building. I stare up at it in dread. Loud noises sound inside.

"Okay, bu-bye!" My dear, sweet friends who promised to stay by my side wave and run away, laughing hysterically at my shocked expression.

"What happened to got my back?! Traitors!" I yell, shaking my fist at them. I turn back to the building. More shouting and yelling comes from inside.

I swing open the wooden doors and march inside. Once through the doorway, I promptly trip over my own feet and a fireball shoots out of my hand. It multiplies in midair, forming a dozen orbs of fire floating around the bar.

"Oh. That's new. What should I call it?" I study the fire curiously, then snap. "Ooo, I know! Will o' wisp: form fission!"

I realize too late that I activated the spell when I probably should've dispelled it. The balls of fire floating around the bar explode, destroying not only the glass in Aunt Mira's hand, but also every glass bottle behind the counter as well.

I watch in horror as alcohol sprays everywhere. Poor Aunt Cana looks like she's having a heart attack over in the corner, seeing alcohol wasted.

As soon as it dies down a little, I quickly bow to the beautiful white haired woman behind the bar. "Sorry Aunt Mira!"

"One glass doesn't matter as long as you're alright." She laughs it off.

I frown, looking and all the ruined glasses and bottles behind her. "Uh..."

Aunt Mira follows my gaze. "We can always restock the bar. It doesn't matter as long as you're alright."

"Nadia!" Someone yells behind me. I turn to face a red, puffy-eyed, seriously pissed Nashi.