Winter Illusion: Lonely Fairy [Video/Action at Fairy Haven] OTA

[fairysoul]

[For those who know the place called "Fairy Haven" in Fayren, that's exactly what they can see displayed on their screens right now.]

I've looked everywhere...

[The image is trembling, as if the hand holding the communication device was shaking slightly.]

Lucy, Natsu... Even you, Zeira... Are you all really gone?

[A few more seconds, then the feed turns towards a young girl with long blond hair and two small white wing hair clips.]

For those who don't know me yet, my name is Mavis. I'm the First Guild Master of Fairy Tail.

It seems my companions have left, but I know they had offered hospitality and assistance to some of you at Fairy Haven.

Of course, you're welcome to stay. And if any of my guildmates had offered you help with anything, please let me know and I'll be happy to do it in their stead. Until they return.

[She pauses and seems about to turn off the feed, but then adds as an afterthought.]

But if I'm wrong, and any member of Fairy Tail is still here in Genessia, do contact me as soon as you see this.

[And that's all she says. She misses them but she believe they were sent home when they'll be safe and can put the war to an end.]


[Private message to Zeref]
I've tried to contact them, but their communication devices seem to have been disconnected.
I've tried to look for them, but they're nowhere to be found.
Looks like... it's just you and me now.
I think I'm going to stay at Fairy Haven for a while. In case anyone needs me.
...You're free to come, too.
[Instead of a signature, there's this. One of the many drawings of fairies Mavis has been working on, everytime Zeref and her would decide to spend the afternoon in the forest, away from the rest of the world.]

Comments

text - private

[deathsought]

{ While he, himself, has never been in a guild and has never had the desire to join one, he's well aware of the familial bond that has formed between Fairy Tail's members, having seen them for as long as he has both in this world and in Exsilium, he's sure that was very, very difficult for Mavis to say. It isn't long afterward that he receives the private text message, and it takes him a while to respond. He's unsure if he should offer his sympathies, given that his followers have tried - and damn near succeeded - to kill many of those same members. But thankfully, she does give something else for which to reply. }

If they are indeed still here, or if any other members of your guild arrive or return and find me there, I don't need to tell you how they are going to react.

{ As would anyone from Alvarez, for that matter, but he leaves that unsaid, given the circumstances. }

text - private

[fairysoul]

[Mavis had not expected Zeref to offer his sympathies. But right now, she was feeling lonelier than she had felt in a long time.]

If they come back, I won't need to stay at Fairy Haven either and we can go back to the inn.

text - private

[deathsought]

{ He knows. He can tell. He can't claim to be able to relate to how she's feeling at the moment, but he isn't without empathy. And after all of the time they've spent together... well, at the moment, he's all she has. A feeling he knew all too well, nearly one century ago. }

We will stay wherever you wish, Mavis. We made a promise.

{ He stares at that message for a good ten seconds after he sends it, before typing again. }

That said, Suigintou will never accept us leaving her in the inn all alone.

text - private

[fairysoul]

[Mavis smiles despite herself at that. She can already imagine the little doll's pout.]

She's free to come with us. As long as she doesn't leave black feathers everywhere.

text - private

[deathsought]

I've tried everything to get her to stop doing that. I think we're just going to have to live with it.

{ Everything short of refusing to clean it up until Suigintou does it herself, of course, but he predicts that it would turn into a contest to see who blinked first until wherever they lived was so full of feathers that it would be dangerous to even walk in. }

Then it is settled. We'll move into Fairy Haven, together.

text - private

[fairysoul]

That's okay ^_~

[Look! Mavis learnt to make smileys.]

Sounds good.

[There's a pause.]

Thank you, Zeref.

I'll see you in our room in a bit, then?

text - private

[deathsought]

{ So he can see. It adds a cute, typically Mavis flair. Though, he does wonder where she picked that up. }

Yes. We'll pack together.

text - private -> Action?

[fairysoul]

[By reading books, of course. She's been visiting all the main libraries in Genessia (including one in Nova City).]

I'm on my way.

[Video]

[youfool]

[He looks similarly somber, though he's had more time to deal with the loss of one member in particular]

"Hello, Ms. Mavis. Yes, I've seen their names in the usual place. I'm sorry for your loss. I knew Lucy a little and Levy...very much."

[Levy in particular still stings]

[Video]

[fairysoul]

[Mavis tries to force a small smile on her lips.]

Thank you, sir. I know I won't be the only one to miss them here. They'd made lots of friends.

[And she's grateful for that.]

[Video]

[redhairedknight]

[Shortly after arriving, Erza decides to check the communication device. It's pretty easy to get used to - really similar to a communication lacrima, surprisingly enough. She figures that she can't be the only one who wants to know more about their new situation, and she can save time by seeing what other people have to say about it.

Skimming through the video feed, she's surprised to see a familiar face on the screen. After watching the video, she knows that she has to act.]

[It takes a bit to figure out how to send a video, but once she does...] First? I just got here - where are you? [Well, Fairy Haven, obviously, but she has no idea where that is.]

[Video]

[fairysoul]

...Erza? [Mavis blinks.] Erza! You're back!

[She knows it's selfish of her to be happy about one of her guildmates' return but she can't help it.]

Just tell me where you are and I'll come to you. It shall be easier. [Since apparently Erza doesn't remember anything about this place or her last stay here.]

[Video]

[redhairedknight]

Back? [She shakes her head.] You can explain later; I'm in a cave that's partially flooded. If that projection was to be believed, everyone shows up here.

[Video] -> Action?

[fairysoul]

[Mavis nods firmly.] I know exactly where it is.

[She starts running, keeping the feed on.] Hold on, Erza! I'll be right there.

[Soon enough some kind of portal appears on screen, the kind more commonly known as an 'archway' and in this case, the one which links Fayren to Genessia. Mavis checks she has her pendant around her neck before she steps through it.]

[Video] -> [Action]

[redhairedknight]

Okay - I'll wait here.

[Sticking to her word, Erza's still near the entrance to the Bay, browsing through the brochures and the map when Mavis shows up.] That was fast. The portal that you went through - did you make that? [She wouldn't put it past the First, all things considered.]

[Action]

[fairysoul]

[It still took a bit of time for Mavis to run from the archway to the place where Erza was waiting for her. Fortunately, she was a fast runner. She'd always been. Having to run errands for Zeira's father when she was a child had been good training. After all, he didn't react too well whenever he considered she'd taken too long.

Mavis stops a few feet away from Erza. She's slightly out of breath and her bare feet are covered in dirt but she's beaming. It feels so good to see one of her guildmates again. Even if Erza had forgotten ever coming here.

She shakes her head at Erza's question, smiling brightly.] Oh, no. Those are the 'archways'. You might have read about them. They're used to travel between the different major cities of Genessia. [Mavis points at the pendant she's wearing around her neck.] This works as a key and allows the portal to know who you are. If it recognizes you, then it lets you through.

[Action]

[redhairedknight]

[Erza's smiling warmly at the sight of Mavis - while it sounded like she had a body once more back home (hard for Zeref to kidnap her otherwise), it's still good to see the guild's first master in a physical form.] I see - good thing I grabbed mine, then. [It looked like a cute accessory, so she took it just in case.]

[With that, Erza tries to pull Mavis into a hug. Though given that (after testing to see that her Exquip magic still worked while she waited) she's wearing her usual steel armour on her upper body, accepting the hug might be painful.] ...I'm sorry to hear about Natsu and Lucy. And Zeira, though I don't believe we've met. I don't know if I'll be able to make up for their absence, but I will try my best.

[Action]

[fairysoul]

[Mavis nods.] It's best to wear it at all times. Besides, it is kind pretty, don't you think?

[Mavis accepts the hug anyway, even if she winces a little when the steel armor starts to press just a little too hard against her chest.] It's okay. I guess it was time for them to go home. [She smiles softly. She knows Levy had suffered quite a lot during her stay here, even if she seemed to have found love, too.] Zeira... She can be pretty shy. But she's a good friend. I believe she said Gajeel ever saw her back home. [But even when no one can see her, she's always with Mavis. In her heart.

Mavis has to chuckle softly at that.] I know you will, Erza.

...Though you have to know that there is someone else from our world in Genessia right now. I don't believe you've met him before but I know you've heard of him. And before I tell you who it is, you need to know that he's very different here. Closer to whom he used to be when I first met him a hundred years ago.

Video

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine frowns a little at the update. Behind her is one of the bookshelves in Scribes and Scrolls which she had been filling with new content.]

I'm sorry to hear that so many have gone.

How are you holding up?

Video

[fairysoul]

[Mavis bows her head in thanks.] Thank you. I really appreciate that. I know I'm hardly an exception, though. People disappear from this world every day. [But it's true that so many people from her own world disappearing back to back makes her feel rather lonely. So every little bit of sympathy helps.

She forces a smile on her lips.] I'll be okay. There's still someone from my world at least.

I'm sorry I can't seem to remember your name. Have we met before?

[And suddenly, Mavis notices the bookshelves behind Dairine.] You work in a Library? [If you were looking for a way to distract Mavis from her pain, Dairine, you just found one.]

Video - Whoops, got the store name wrong the first time.

[wizard_redfive]

True, but that hardly devalues your own experience in the matter. [In her own experience, the disappearances of friends and acquaintances took quite a toll overtime.]

Good to hear you've got someone.

My name's Dairine Callahan. I think we may have talked before, but it's been a while so I'm not sure. I've heard of Fairy Tail though.

[Dairine glances at the books.]

Not quite. I work at Scribes and Scripts. Levy gave me her job when she left.

Video - It's okay :)

[fairysoul]

Well, just in case we heven't... [She bows respectfully.] It's nice to meet you, Miss Dairine.[]

Oh! You were a friend of Levy's? [Her expression lightens up at that.] I know that place. I thought about applying for a job there a while back but I wasn't sure you still needed help.

Video

[wizard_redfive]

It's nice to meet you too.

[Dairine smiles a little.]

I was. [While Dairine has plenty of experience with people leaving, she still misses Levy.] Yeah? If you still want to, we could probably use more help. One of our employees left recently.

Video

[fairysoul]

Really? I would! I mean... I might not be able to work full time, depending on how much work Fairy Tail gets, but I'd love to. [Especially if she'll be working with a friend of Levy's.] What would you have me do? Sort books? Look for more books?

[Can you tell she's a bookworm yet, Dairine?]

Video

[wizard_redfive]

It's fine if you can only work part time.

Depends on what you want. You could be a Clerk and help out around the store – sorting books, shelving them, and dealing with customers. Or you could be a Book Hunter. They search the cities for new and unique books to sell.

Which would you like?