Fairy Tail: Next Generation - Volume I

Chapter 10: Old Bonds

Marigold stands in the kitchen of the Dragneel's, cutting vegetables as Liddan and Malcon run around outside practicing magic. Jude, however, sits at the kitchen counter and pouts.

"Why the long face?" She asked.

"Cuz, nobody likes me." He mumbles.

"Now why is that?"

"They think I'm annoying."

"Well I don't."

"Yeah ya do, or at least you will."

"Jude. There isn't anything wrong with the way you act. You're just being yourself. The only problem I had with your grand entrance was that your older brother used me as a weapon."

"You don't know what its like. Everyone says I'm hot headed and punch happy, and too high for my britches."

"Britches?" Marigold asks.

"Its mainly the old guys." Jude lays his head on the counter.

Marigold ruffles his hair. "Remember when you said my hair looks like dirt?"

"Yeah."

"Well, for one thing, your insults could use a little work."

Jade blushes. "I just meant that it doesn't make sense! Why name you Marigold if your hair isn't golden."

"Well, when I was born, it was."

"What happened to it? Are you one of those weird girls whose all self conscious about her hair color so keeps changing it, like, every week. And ends up with a whole bunch of random streaks in her hair and-"

"No." Marigold interrupts. "It changed naturally when I was 6. People used to say God himself spat dirt in my hair, so people would look at me and remember my sins."

"What?"

"It means my hairs brown so people won't forget to hate me."

"Why would anyone hate you?" Jude asked. He had already become quite fond of Marigold, and couldn't imagine someone hating her.

"Believe me...they had reasons. Good ones."

"What were they?"

Marigold looks at Jude and frowns. "If you knew, you'd hate me too."

"But wait...you did something SO bad that everyone hated you."

"Yep."

"And you did before you were even 6?"

"Yep."

"Well I'm 9, and everyone hates me." Jude pouts again.

"Jude, you aren't hated by everyone. I actually doubt anyone hates you. You're a good kid. And you haven't even joined Fairy Tail, you've not even gotten the chance to give people a reason to hate you!"

"You're not being very comforting."

"The point is, just because you think a couple of people find you irritating, does NOT mean that people hate you!"

Liddan and Malcon run in, both some how on fire.

"Hey Marigold! Lunch almost ready? Sorry to leave you with Jude here. He can get really annoying sometimes, but ya know. We put up with him."

Marigold stands up and smacks Liddan on the head. "Liddan, seriously? We are having an emotional breakthrough! Go back outside and catch yourself on fire you dream crusher!"

In the Love and Lucky, our team ponders the possibilities how the guild was robbed if not with thought magic.

"I think one of the guild members did it!" Natsu preached. This had been his