Memoirs of a Family

"Aura…Aura." Romeo said shaking the small girl. "Dad said it's time to get up."
"I don't want to." The young girl answered lazily. "I want to sleep."
"Well too bad." Romeo grabbed the blanket and removed it from the bed altogether, leaving the 6 year old with nowhere to hide. "Time to get up."
The young girl groaned as she sat up and rubbed her eyes. Her pink hair tossed about in all directions as she yawned. "You're mean Romeo." She said sticking out her tongue at him.
"That's what big brothers are, mean." He replied. "Now go on, hurry up and get ready." He ordered, pointing towards the door of her room.
"Ok." She said still tired as she walked out of her room and towards the bathroom.
…
Aura Robin Dragneel, the daughter of Fairy Tail wizards Natsu Dragneel and Erza Scarlet. She is 6 years old, and has already decided at such a young age that she is not a morning person.
…
"I see sleeping beauty is finally awake." Macao said with a smirk as he watched Aura and Romeo walk to and sit at the breakfast table. "Good morning you two."
"Morning Dad." Romeo replied.
Aura yawned one last time. "Good morning Papa Macao."
"So what's the plan today, dad?" Romeo asked.
"Well you've gotta go to school, kid." Macao replied as he walked to the table, sitting down across from his son. "Aura and I are going to the guild hall."
"Do I have to go to school?" Romeo whined. "Mr. Totomaru is so boring. Why can't you teach me how to control my magic?"
"Because I have guild master duties." Macao replied sipping from his mug of coffee. "Besides Totomaru is more adept at fire magic than I am, you'll learn more from him than you would from me."
Romeo sat back in his chair and sulked. "I wish Natsu was still here, he'd teach me."
"Romeo." Macao said sternly. Romeo looked up at his father, noticing his eyes were shifting towards Aura. Romeo's own eyes widened in realization.
"Oh crap. Sorry Aura." He apologized placing his hands together as if he were praying.
"It's okay." She replied with a smile. "It's not like I remember what my real dad looks like anyway."
Macao and Romeo looked at one another before looking back at Aura with hollow, sullen smiles. They knew that she was lying.
…
Raised under the watchful eye of Fairy Tail's guild master, Macao Conbolt, ever since she was 9 months old; Aura grew up without much memory of her parents. If any comments about them did affect her, she didn't actively know about it.
…
The three walked the streets of Magnolia, eventually reaching the crossroads in the middle of the marketplace.
"Well I'm off to school." Romeo said taking the left path. "I'll see you guys at the guild hall later." He ran off, waving at them before turning around.
Macao and Aura waved back for a little bit before going their own way, taking the right path towards the Fairy Tail guild hall.
"Papa Macao…" Aura said looking down at the ground.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think my mommy and daddy are gonna come home?" she asked still looking at the ground.
Macao's eyes softened as he continued looking ahead of him. It was rare for Aura to ask about Natsu and Erza, but whenever she did Macao was never prepared for it.
He sighed as he thought of the best thing to say. "I'm sure they will." He said with a smile, trying to get the young girls mind off the topic as soon as possible. "It's just taking them a while to get back."
"Really?" she asked looking up at him, a glimmer of hope in her eye.
"Really." Macao replied with another fake smile.
"Ok." Aura said, a slightly despondent look on her face but she seemed otherwise pacified for the moment. "Romeo always goes to that place where the ships are before he comes home. Why?"
"I don't know." Macao said. He knew exactly why Romeo ventured to the Hargeon Port, but he kept quiet as to avoid further worrying Aura.
The two entered the guild hall a few minutes later, Fairy Tail's now meager number of members greeting them with smiles.
"Hey everyone." Macao said.
"Hey Master." Max replied before looking down. "Hey Aura." He said with a smile.
"Hi Max." she returned.
"Morning little lady." Wakaba said with a grin.
"Hi Mr. Wakaba." Aura replied.
"Good morning Master." Kinana said with a smile as she cleaned glasses behind the bar.
"Morning Kinana." Macao said waving.
"Hi Kina!" Aura yelled with a smile, causing the barmaid to look down at the bar at her.
"Oh, good morning Aura. I didn't see you there." Kinana returned with a smile. She thought it was adorable how Aura would become tongue tied when she said her full name, So Kinana let her shorten it. Although, Aura is the only person who can call her Kina.
Others besides Aura who called her by that moniker faced dire consequences, like Max; although he preferred not to talk about what happened that day.
"Aura!" a small voice called from the other side of the guild hall. From behind one of the tables ran a small girl, the same age as Aura give or take a few months. Atop her head was an orange cowboy hat, her dark green hair flowing behind her as her toy gun flapped about in the holster on her waist. She jumped onto Aura, hugging her neck.
"Hi Asuka." Aura said a bit uncomfortable that she was suddenly embraced, but she was still happy to see her friend.
…
Asuka Connell, the 6 year old daughter of Fairy Tail wizards Alzack and Bisca Connell, and Aura's de facto best friend. Asuka was born a year after the Tenrou team disappeared and was always a happy child, she was also the first person to crack through Aura's hardened exterior when they were both still toddlers.
Aura would always act out when she was younger due to being left by her parents, but for reasons still unknown to guild, Asuka and Aura became fast friends upon meeting each other. Perhaps that mystery will only be known to those two girls until the end of time.
…
"She's been talking about you nonstop." Alzack said as he Bisca walked up to the two girls.
"Yep, she's been waiting for you all morning." Bisca said with a smile.
"Really?" Aura said looking at Asuka, who simply smiled and nodded. Aura smiled wide showing her teeth. Alzack, Bisca, Kinana, and Macao smiled warmly at the sight, she looked just like Natsu.
"Aura is here?!" another voice yelled, however instead of surprise, this voice sent a shiver up the small girl's spine. She quickly ducked behind Macao, confusing Asuka.
"Where is she?" A woman said as she walked over to Macao. She had wavy dirty blonde hair that stopped just above her shoulders. She was sporting an orange tank top which contrasted sharply with her navy blue cargo jeans and brown flats, and a black Fairy Tail mark was emblazoned just above her left breast. She also wore blissful smile as she looked at Macao.
"Right here." Macao said sidestepping, revealing the frightened Aura. "Don't be rude Aura." Macao whispered.
"Hello Aura." The woman cooed as she bent over, placing her hands on her knees.
She stood up, nervously twisting the point of her shoe into the guild hall floor. "Hi Alana."
…
Alana Engel, the 17 year old heiress of the prestigious Engel family from Lumina, and as of today has been a Fairy Tail wizard for 3 years. Coincidentally, she is also the only person who has joined the guild in that time frame.
Specializing in light make magic, she can create "hard light" constructs in any form she wants. Coupled with her nearly boundless imagination, she is quite the formidable wizard.
…
"I told you, call me big sister." Alana said still smiling.
"A-Alana…onee-san." Aura said hesitantly. Suddenly she felt arms wrap around her as Alana grabbed her and held her in the air, clasping her tightly against her chest for a hug.
"Aww, you are so precious Aura." She squealed as she held the young girl.
"T-Thank you." Aura replied as her face squished against Alana's ample bust.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Alana said in realization as she put Aura down. "I bought you the cutest dress while out on a job yesterday." She said with a smile. "But I left it in my apartment. Don't go anywhere." Alana then rushed out of the guild hall, much to Aura's relief.
Macao and Wakaba laughed. "Well looks like Asuka wasn't the only one anxious to see you." Macao said.
"She scares me." Aura said still shaking a bit.
"Aw, don't be like that." Macao said. "She's just a bit affectionate when it comes to you is all."
Aura pouted some until she felt Asuka tugging at her shirt. "Let's go play outside Aura." She said with a smile as she pointed to a door just past the bar.
"Ok." Aura nodded as she followed behind her friend.
"Don't go far you two." Bisca called to them.
"We won't." Asuka replied as she and Aura moved on.
As the two girls drew closer to the door, Aura suddenly stopped just before passing the bar. She turned her body, facing one of the support pillars. Her focus then was shifted from Asuka, to a picture on the pillar, hanging a small distance above her.
It was a picture Reedus drew of the Fairy Tail guild seven years ago, including all those lost on Tenrou Island.
"Aura?" Kinana asked concerned as she looked over at the young girl. "Aura what's wrong?"
"Kinana." Macao called. She looked over to him and he shook his head, signaling her to leave the situation alone. Kinana reluctantly backed off.
Aura could never fully explain why, but she always stopped to look at this picture whenever she came across it. Perhaps it was to remind herself of what her real parents looked like, that way she would be prepared if they ever came back.
She rose her arm slowly, extending her index finger towards the picture just as she had done many times before. Moving her finger across the length of it, she stopped when her lone digit fell upon a young woman with beautiful, long scarlet hair. It covered one of her equally stunning brown eyes as she stood adorned in a grey armor top and blue skirt, a smirk across her face. On the front of the armor was a gold cross with the Fairy Tail emblem underneath it. Her stance was firm, but at the same time soft. Exuding an air of both strength and compassion.
"Mommy." Aura said low before moving her finger across the picture again.
This time it stopped on a young man, not much younger than the woman from earlier. He was crouching next to a young blonde girl as his hair, which was a bright shade of pink, stood out in contrast with his black and gold vest and white scaly scarf that wrapped neatly around his neck. He gave the thumbs up, smiling wide and showing his uniquely sharp teeth as a blue cat with wings floated next to him.
"Daddy." Aura once again spoke low. It was almost as if she was entranced by the picture, blocking out everything else around her as she burned the images of the two people she pointed to into her mind.
"Aura?" Asuka said, breaking her out of her hypnotic state.
"Huh?" Aura said returning to her senses. She looked at Asuka, noticing the worried look on her friends face. "What's wrong? You don't want to play?" Aura asked, completely unaware of the last few seconds that just passed.
"You miss your mama and papa don't you?" Asuka asked.
"What?" Aura asked confused.
"You were looking at the picture again." She said pointing up at said picture. "You miss them right?" Asuka asked again.
Aura grew silent.
"Aura! I…" Alana ran back into the guild hall, a bag hanging off her shoulder, but she was soon halted when Macao held his arm in front of her. "Master what's…" she began but soon understood the situation when she saw where Aura and Asuka were standing.
"Oh." She said sullenly, lowering the bag to the ground. "She looked at the picture again?" Alana asked, Macao nodding in affirmation. "Poor girl." Alana said sadly.
"We don't have to play today." Asuka said. "We can stay inside.'
"No." Aura said shaking her head. "Let's go outside." She then grabbed Asuka's hand, much to the girl's surprise, and ran outside.
"Well it seems like she's getting better." Alana said with a warm smile. "She used to just stand in front of that picture for hours."
"She asked about them today." Macao said.
"Natsu and Erza?" Alzack asked.
Macao nodded in confirmation. "It's been a few months since she's done that."
"Why did she suddenly bring them up?" Bisca asked.
"I think it's because of Romeo." Macao answered.
"Ah, yeah." Alzack said. "He's always standing at the port isn't he?"
"Yeah." Macao said a bit despondent. "He goes there almost every day, I think he's waiting for the others return. Honestly…" Macao said scratching the back of his head. "I don't know what I'm going to do with that boy."
"What about Aura?" Alana asked. "How is she taking it?"
"She says she doesn't mind, but I know she's lying. She's trying to be strong, but there's only so much a girl her age can manage. I think she gets that from Erza."
All of the adults soon had saddened looks on their faces as they thought about the friends, the family, they lost on Tenrou Island all those years ago. It was hard for all of them, their trusted friends and guild mates, even their Master, gone in a flash and presumed dead. They wanted to believe that they were still alive, but with each passing day that faith was tested. Waning in the winds just like the once proud reputation of the Fairy Tail guild.
"Master Macao?" Asuka said as she and Aura approached the table where Macao, Alzack, Bisca, and Alana were sitting. They all looked down at the two girls, they were holding hands but Aura was nervously looking at the floor, avoiding eye contact with anyone.
"What's wrong Asuka?" Bisca asked her daughter.
"Aura doesn't feel good." Asuka said. "She said she wants to go home."
"Okay, well let me just grab a few things and we can go back to…"
"No." Aura said cutting Macao off. "I want to go home." She inflected the last word, and soon enough everyone knew what she really meant. She didn't want to go back to Macao's home, she desired to go to her real home, the home that Natsu and Erza had built together all those years ago.
Macao knelled down in front of her, "Are you sure?" he asked. Aura nodded slowly. "Alright then." He said standing back up. "Let's go." He said with a smile as he extended his hand towards her.
"Really?" Aura said, her eyes lighting up.
Macao nodded, "Yep, let's go kiddo."
"Ok." She nodded, grabbing his hand.
"I wanna go too." Asuka said as she held onto Aura's other hand, making a nice human chain that caused both girls to smile.
"I'll go with them." Bisca said walking behind the trio. "Who knows what kind of trouble those girls will get in if Macao lets them." She said with a smirk.
"Hey." Macao said offended.
"Hurry up mama." Asuka said looking back at Bisca.
"Alright alright, I'm coming. Hold your horses." Bisca replied as she jogged to catch up. "We'll be back soon Al." Bisca said waving to her husband who waved back with a smile.
"I'll go to." Alana said standing up. "I always wanted to know what house they all lived in."
"Wakaba." Macao called as they exited the guild hall, "You're in charge till I get back."
"You got it." Wakaba said giving the thumbs up.
"Be careful." Kinana called as the guild doors closed.
A few minutes later, the group had soon made their way to the outskirts of Magnolia, taking a small path lined with trees. Macao led the group, Aura holding his hand as Asuka held hers; Alana and Bisca following close behind.
"Do you know where you're going Macao?" Bisca asked a bit skeptical as she stepped over a tree root.
"Yeah I picked Romeo up from Natsu's place one time after I came back from a job. It should be around here…somewhere." Macao answered, his voice trailing off as he looked around for some sort of path.
He's totally lost. Bisca thought.
Eventually the group reached a clearing. Stepping out from the trees, they spotted a tangle of vines covering what looked to be an average sized home.
"Is that it?" Alana asked.
"I don't know." Macao said. He looked along the outline of the home. Eventually his eyes fell to a small sign, also covered in vines, but the letter N could be seen on it. "What's this?" He walked over to the sign, using his flame magic to slowly singe away some of the vines and reveal the words on the sign. When he was finished he smirked satisfied. "Well Aura," he said looking back at the young girl. "Looks like we made it."
Aura walked up to the sign, her eyes widening and a smile appearing on her face as she read the words aloud. "Natsu, Erza, Aura, & Happy's Home."
"Welcome home kiddo." Macao said with a smile.
"Let's go in mama." Asuka said excitedly.
"Hold on Asuka." Bisca said, calming her down. "It's Aura's house. We have to ask if it's ok with her first." She explained.
"Ok." Asuka said. She then walked over to Aura. "Can we go inside your house Aura?" Asuka asked.
Aura looked back at her friend and nodded. "Yes, you can go in."
"Yay!" Asuka yelled. "Come on let's go." She grabbed Aura's hand and ran towards the house.
"Hold on you two!" Macao yelled after them. "We have to clear those vines first." He said running after them.
"They're certainly full of energy." Alana said with a smile.
"Well they are both still young." Bisca said smiling back.
Macao, Aura, and Asuka stood in front of the vine covered abode, the Fairy Tail guild master trying to catch his breath from running.
"Are you okay Papa Macao?" Aura asked.
"Yeah…I'm fine. Just…need…to catch my breath." He said regaining his bearings.
"It's because he's old." Asuka said giggling.
"Hey, I'm not that old yet." Macao retorted, he then looked back at the house. "Now let's see what we can do about these overgrown weeds."
Macao extended his index and middle fingers and soon a purple flame emerged from their tips. He then sent it forward, scorching the vines away and revealing the house underneath.
Macao grabbed the door handle, slowly pushing it open as the rusty hinges creaked loudly; the loud noise caused Aura and Asuka to cover their ears. Bisca and Alana soon caught up with the three.
The five then stepped into the home, taking in all of its atmosphere as the sun shined through the window in the left wall. Aura stood amazed as she absorbed everything into herself. It felt right being here, it felt warm.
"Well this place has certainly seen better days." Macao said wiping his finger on the dust covered table in the kitchen.
"I like it." Alana said walking around. "It has a rustic appeal to it."
"You and I have totally different views on what rustic is." Bisca said to Alana as she surveyed the kitchen with Macao.
"Wow." Asuka said looking around. "Your house is pretty, Aura."
Aura soon walked over to two closed doors on the opposite end of the big window.
"Where do those go?" Asuka asked as he stood next to Aura.
"I don't know." Aura answered. She reached for the door on the right, turning the knob slowly as the door creaked open. Inside was a large bed, a closet, and a shelf with various knick knacks and items arranged on it.
Bisca, Macao, and Alana walked up to the doors as the two young girls entered the room.
"This must be Natsu and Erza's room." Macao said, stepping inside.
"That's a pretty big bed." Bisca said impressed, although there was a faint hint of jealousy in her voice. "Mine and Al's would make up almost two of those."
"What's this?" Alana said looking at the shelf. She scanned over the items, reading the little signs in front of each of them.
Maid uniform from Lucy's job.
Piece of the Jupiter Cannon.
Coin from Lumina Casino.
Lacrima from Tower of Heaven.
Ur Water, DON'T DRINK!
"What are these?" Alana asked as she continued to survey the shelf.
"Those are souvenirs from the jobs Natsu's been on." Macao said. "Don't break them."
"Calm down Master, I won't touch anything." Alana said reassuring him. She continued scanning the shelf, eventually coming across a picture of what looked like Fairy Tail from seven years ago, although their outfits were radically different and some of the guild mates were in odd poses: Lucy held a cowering Natsu in a headlock, A scantily clad Juvia pushed away a heavily clothed Gray, Cana was in a very modest dress with a sun hat, Wendy was much older in more ways than one, and various other anomalies; but the most peculiar thing was that Erza, Master Makarov, Gajeel, and the cats were nowhere to be seen. Alana read the sign under the picture aloud. "Edolas Fairy Tail." she looked at the sign again. "Edolas?"
"You done in there Alana?" Macao called, catching the young woman's attention Alana looked around and soon noticed she was the only one still in the room.
"Coming." She called as she stepped out of the room and rejoined the others, who were standing in front of the next closed door.
"What was the hold up in there?" Macao asked.
"Nothing, I just saw this odd picture on the shelf." she explained. "What's 'Edolas Fairy Tail'?" she asked.
"Well, it's kind of a long story." Macao said. "I'll tell you about it later."
"Ok." Alana said.
Aura turned the knob and opened the door. As she looked inside her little heart skipped a beat. Inside was a well-crafted wooden crib, a book shelf with quite the collection of children's literature on it, and a rocking chair. Painted on the walls were Dragons and various weapons of all types and sizes. A hammock was hanging from the ceiling, a small shelf hanging under it, with a carving atop it that read: Aura
"I think this is your room, Aura." Alana said with a smile as the young girl walked inside.
"Your room is so cool, Aura." Asuka said amazed as she looked around.
Aura walked around the room, smiling softly as she looked at all of her baby possessions. She tried to reach for the dusted picture frame on the shelf but she was too short.
Noticing her plight, Macao grabbed the picture for her and brought it down. "Here." He said with a smile as he handed it to her.
"Thank you Papa Macao." She said as she rubbed her hands on the frame. Her eyes widened when she saw the picture underneath. It was a small painting, obviously done by Reedus, which depicted her family. Natsu smiling his usual toothy grin as Happy flew next to him, and in the center was Erza, smiling warmly as she cradled baby Aura in her arms. A couple of tears flowed out of Aura's eyes.
"Are you okay?" Macao asked concerned as Aura wiped away her own tears.
"Yes." She replied nodding. "Papa Macao, can we clean up?" She asked, slightly surprising Macao and the others. "The house should be clean for when Mommy and Daddy get back, right?" she asked looking up him, her brown eyes glimmering.
Macao gave her a soft smile. "Yeah, you're right." He then looked at the others. "Anybody up for some house cleaning?"
"I am!" Asuka shouted raising her hand.
Bisca nodded. "Sure, sounds like fun."
"If that's what Aura wants how can I say no?" Alana said with a smile.
"Then let's get to cleaning." Macao said raising his fist. Soon enough everyone was tidying up Natsu and Erza's home. They threw away trash, ran out critters, and dusted everything down. Alana tripped over one of Natsu's shirts and fell on her butt, causing the others to laugh at her embarrassment. She wanted to scold them, but once she saw the happy look on Aura's face she softened, eventually laughing herself.
After a few hours, the entire house was spotless, as if it had just been built. Everyone stood in the main area nearly covered in dust, but nonetheless satisfied in their work.
"Achoo!" Alana sneezed.
"Bless You." Bisca said.
"Thank you."
"Well we should probably be heading back to guild hall now." Macao said stretching.
"Why? You're back starting to hurt?" Bisca teased.
"Shut up." Macao replied. "I'm not that old. Let's go." Macao walked towards the door, Alana, Bisca, and Asuka following him, but they soon stopped just outside when they noticed Aura wasn't with them.
"Where's Aura?" Asuka asked.
Macao turned around and saw that Aura was still standing in the house, her hands tightly clutching the picture from her room. "Hey." He said grabbing her attention. "It's time to go back."
Aura looked down sadly as she walked out. She didn't want to leave the home, it was hers after all, but she knew it would be dangerous to be there by herself. "Can I keep this?" she asked holding the picture up to Macao.
"What are you asking me for?" he said with a grin. "It's your picture, right? That means it shouldn't matter what I say. If you wanna keep it, keep it."
Aura smiled and nodded. "Okay." She said. "I'll take it."
"Atta girl." Macao said. "Now come on." He said reaching out his hand. "I'm sure Romeo's waiting for us back at the guild."
Aura grabbed Macao's hand and walked beside him as the group headed back to the guild hall. "Thank you Papa Macao." Aura said.
"No need to thank me. Anytime you wanna come back just let me know." He said with a smile.
"Okay." She said nodding. Aura then looked down at the picture, and noticed something that she missed on her last look. There on her mother's right forearm, her father's left, was a mark that was clearly not the Fairy Tail guild mark. It showed a red dragon, spiraling around two black crossed axes. Aura smiled, the upper left side of her back tingling as she looked at the marks.