Magnolia · Fairy Tail Guild
The afterglow of the setting sun streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting colorful light and shadows onto the floor of the Fairy Tail Guild.
Yesterday's "Squirrel Extermination" might have been fruitless, but it didn't dampen the vibrant energy and... destructive power overflowing within the Guild.
"Creeaak—BANG!"
A jarring crash, accompanied by flying wood splinters and the groaning of twisted metal, signaled the central, well-worn long table in the Guild hall finally giving way under the strain of Natsu and Gajeel's "friendly arm wrestle," collapsing with a thunderous roar!
Empty wine glasses, fruit pits, and Levy's magic book, which narrowly escaped damage, scattered across the floor with a clatter.
"Ah! My book!" Levy exclaimed, frantically trying to rescue her precious item.
"Natsu! Gajeel!" Makarov, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly poked his head over the second-floor railing, his small body unleashing an astonishing roar that made dust fall from the ceiling, "You two punks! How many tables is this this month?! I have to pay Laki for repairs! Repairs!"
Natsu and Gajeel remained frozen in their arm-wrestling pose, looking at each other. Natsu looked innocent: "Master, the table was just too flimsy!"
Gajeel chewed on a piece of iron (this time, a table leg remnant), mumbling, "Exactly, it couldn't even withstand this much force."
"Still trying to argue!" Makarov's mustache bristled with anger as he pointed at them, "Today! You two! Go organize and archive all the old request forms piled up in the warehouse! No food until you're done!"
"Eh—?!" Natsu and Gajeel wailed simultaneously.
"Pfft..." Lucy couldn't help but let out a giggle.
"Serves them right," Gray scoffed, gloating from the side.
Natsu and Gajeel simultaneously glared at him, "Wanna fight, huh?!"
Gray was about to retort, but the next second—
"Lord Gray! Look out!" Juvia, like a loyal dog protecting her master, lunged forward and shoved Gray aside.
Splash!
A bucket of cold water, freshly drawn from the well and intended for mopping, was knocked over by Juvia in her haste, drenching Gray to the bone!
Gray: "..."
He stood stiffly in place, water dripping from his hair, as an uncontrolled chill emanated from him, instantly freezing his soaked clothes into a rigid shell of ice.
"Ju...vi...a..." Gray's voice was like a Siberian wind.
"So...sorry! Lord Gray! Juvia just wanted to protect you! Juvia will dry you right away!" Juvia's eyes welled up with tears, and she frantically tried to use fire magic (?) but what emerged from her fingertips were... pink, heart-shaped steam bubbles!
"Pfft—hahahaha!" This time, even Cana couldn't help but slap the table and burst out laughing.
Lucy and Wendy also laughed so hard they couldn't stand straight.
Carla rolled her eyes: "Foolish water woman."
Makarov watched the chaotic scene, clutching his forehead in agony: "My floor... my repair fees... Juvia! You... you go too! Go organize those request forms with Natsu and Gajeel!"
"Yes, Master!" Juvia immediately stood at attention, her face flushed with the Happy blush of "being punished for Lord Gray."
Gray: "..." He just wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
Just as chaos reigned, the Guild doors gently pushed open.
"Excuse me," a gentle voice sounded.
Everyone looked over to see a well-dressed, refined middle-aged gentleman standing at the entrance.
He carried an exquisite bamboo basket, covered with a pristine white cloth.
"Excuse me... is this the Fairy Tail Guild?" the gentleman politely asked.
"Yes, how can we help you?" Mirajane immediately put on her professional smile and went to greet him.
"I am Roy, the owner of'Sweet Moments' dessert shop," the gentleman bowed slightly, "I've come to thank Miss Wendy of your esteemed Guild."
"Thank me?" Wendy peeked out from behind Lucy, looking bewildered.
"Yes," Roy's face broke into a grateful smile, "Yesterday afternoon, my little daughter accidentally fell and scraped her knee while playing in the park, and she was crying terribly. Miss Wendy happened to pass by and healed my daughter's injury with her miraculous magic, and even comforted her. She kept talking about the 'blue-haired angel sister' when she got home. This small token of appreciation, please accept it."
With that, Roy lifted the cloth, revealing a dazzling array of exquisite pastries in the bamboo basket, exuding an enticing sweet aroma—fluffy chiffon cakes, cream cups adorned with fresh strawberries, crispy cookies, and adorable macarons.
"Wow—!" A chorus of exclamations instantly erupted in the Guild; even Natsu, Gajeel, and Juvia, who were still "being punished," couldn't help but crane their necks to look.
"This... this is too much! I just did what I should..." Wendy's small face turned red, and she repeatedly waved her hands.
"Please accept it, Miss Wendy. It's from my daughter and me," Roy insisted.
"Wendy-chan, take it!" Mira gently patted Wendy's head, "This is the thanks you deserve."
"That's right, Wendy, hurry and take it!" Lucy also encouraged her.
Wendy then shyly nodded and took the bamboo basket: "Th...thank you."
Roy then bowed slightly to everyone and bid them farewell.
As soon as the bamboo basket was placed on the bar, it immediately drew everyone's attention.
"Wendy-chan! You're amazing!" Laki and Bisca gathered around her.
"So many delicious things!" Happy and Yuumi's eyes gleamed.
"Ahem!" Makarov cleared his throat, trying to maintain order, "Alright, alright! This is thanks for Wendy! Wendy, you distribute them!"
Wendy looked at her expectant companions, especially Natsu and Gajeel, who were practically drooling, and smiled, pursing her lips: "Let's all eat together!"
"Yay—! Long live Wendy!" Cheers erupted in the Guild.
Wendy carefully distributed the pastries to everyone. Lucy and Levy got strawberry cream cups, Cana and Max chose chiffon cake, Gray, with a stern face, silently accepted a cookie (Juvia immediately declared that whatever Lord Gray liked, she liked too), Elfman took the largest piece ("A man needs sugar!"), and even Makarov happily took a macaron.
Although Natsu, Gajeel, and Juvia were still "being punished," Wendy saved a portion for each of them.
"Mmm! Delicious!" Natsu swallowed a cake whole, praising it indistinctly.
"Much better than iron," Gajeel commented, a rare occurrence.
"Lord Gray's favorite cookie... it must be the most delicious!" Juvia held her portion, so Happy she almost fainted.
Gray: "..." He silently put the cookie in his mouth.
The Guild was filled with a sweet aroma and a relaxed, cheerful atmosphere.
Wendy looked at everyone's satisfied smiles, her heart warm, feeling for the first time the true joy of helping others and being appreciated.
Carla elegantly took small bites of the macaron Wendy gave her, and seeing Wendy's happiness, her lips also curved slightly upward: "Hmph, finally looking a bit like a Sky Miko."
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