Fairy Tail: Next Generation - Volume I

Chapter 7: The Garden

By early June, Nashi and Marigold hadn't exactly been living together for very long, but it had been long enough for the two of them to have a housewarming party of sorts to commemorate the fact that the two were living together and killing it as such.

So in preparation for the party, Marigold and Nashi spent an hour making bacon wrapped sausages for their guests. Marigold would wrap them, and Nashi cook them, but mostly burn them.

"I'm so excited to show the guys the place after we remodeled," Marigold said, passing a skewered sausage to Nashi to burn in a fist. To be clear, remodeled was a huge stretch. They only rearranged some of the furniture and finally bought a bed that slid under Nashi's so she didn't have to sleep on the couch anymore.

"Yeah, I hope they don't get lost," Nashi said, dropping the charred snack onto a plate with the others.

"How would they get lost, you've lived here for over a year, right?" Marigold asked, looking up from her raw meat.

"I meant in here," Nashi made a passive gesture to the apartment, which was covered with potted plants (provided by Marigold).

"Oh," she looked around herself, pursing her lips as a small voice in her head said it was too much, but her love or gardening was superior, so she said, "they'll be fine."

However, Gideon, Liddan, and Malcon alike were not fine in any regards, as that had found a way to get lost.

"Liddan, I hate you," Gideon said flatly.

"Giddy boy, don't say that!" Liddan pleaded, Malcon joining in.

"Yeah, Giddy boy."

"No, that's Liddan's special name," Gideon insisted quite firmly, "only he gets to say it." He let out a sigh, "I can't believe I let you lead the way, you always take a wrong turn no matter where we go and it takes an extra ten minutes just to figure out where we are."

"Yeah, but we get a story out of it," Liddan insisted.

"A story about how stupid you are."

"Story of his life, amiright?" Malcon jabbed his little elbow at both Liddan and Gideon, neither seeming to reciprocate his enthusiasm. He put his paws on his hips, nodding his head to say, "I'm right."

Though they had to ask for directions, they found themselves on the right road again. It didn't delay them too long, but Gideon was annoyed he had to spend more time lugging around his present.

"Why are you carrying around some box?"

"It's not just a some box," Gideon insisted, "This is the newest lacrima music tech out there! This baby can access any song–anywhere! You can make mixes too–and I've specially made a playlist for Nashi–"

"Wait–we were supposed to bring presents?!" Liddan said, suddenly growing stiff.

Gideon furrowed his brow, "Duh, it's a housewarming party, the only reason people throw those is to get gifts for their new house."

"Well," Liddan pointed at Malcon, "Malcon didn't bring anything–"

"Guess again," Malcon pulled out from behind his shirt a long rolled up piece of paper, when he unrolled it it revealed a strangely detailed portrait of both Nashi and Marigold standing together looking wistfully up into the left corner. "They're gonna love it. You really didn't get them anything–"

"Geez–okay!" Liddan's legs spread out as he looked around frantically. "Hold on–I need to find a present first–"

"We're in the middle of the road," Gideon shouted, "Come on–let's just go!"