"So, what are the abilities of a Wind Dragonslayer, Wendy?" Folding my arms, I looked at Wendy, curious how she differed from Laxus, Natsu, and Gajeel.
"Um, my abilities? Well, I can provide enhancements to increase your strength, speed, and durability." With a thoughtful expression, Wendy furrowed her brows before flashing a smile, only to outstretch her hands toward me while chanting.
When she finished, her magic power rushed into me, causing my strength, speed, and endurance to massively increase. "Ho, that's pretty amazing, I'm much stronger now." Flexing my muscles, I raised my arms and rapidly attacked the air, inadvertently creating powerful currents before deciding to use my magic.
However, as I channeled my magic power through my body, using Indestructible magic power to enhance myself, the enhancements Wendy provided were dispelled, causing us to both freeze. "Eh, w-what happened? My enhancements shouldn't have worn off that quickly." As she looked at me in confusion, I dismissively waved my hand.
"It's my magic. Tsk, damn though, would've been awesome if that magic worked." While unfortunate, it would've made me a bit too strong. "Your magic? What's your magic?" Yawning, I waved my hand, dismissing Wendy's curiosity. "I'll tell you later, anyway, you continue explaining."
As Wendy continued to explain her capabilities, I found myself quite impressed; from what I could tell, for someone her age, she was powerful, much stronger than I ever was. 'Heh, the same could be said for Minerva… This newer generation is going to be something else, huh.'
Rubbing my chin with a grin, imagining how strong those two would be in a decade, I suddenly froze at what Wendy had said. "Wait. What did you say, Wendy?" "... I have excellent senses–" Shaking my head, I leaned down, closing the distance between our faces. "No, before that. Healing." "O-Oh, yeah, I-I can use healing magic."
I could feel my face split into a feral smile at her words; raising a finger, I dug my nail into my chest, slashed downwards, creating a shallow cut across my chest, causing Wendy to take a few steps back. "Can you heal this, Wendy?" "W-Why did you do that, Cooper?" Swiftly closing the distance, I gently but firmly grabbed her shoulders while ignoring her question. "Wendy, can you heal me?"
Nervously gulping, Wendy nodded and raised her hands, prompting her magic power to press against my body; taking a step back, I looked down, watching as my wound slowly mended itself back together over the course of a few minutes. When she finished, I rubbed my hand across my chest, inspecting the wound.
'It's not fully healed, but she's sped up the process significantly.' "P-Please don't do that again, Cooper. I can heal the wound, but the blood won't be regenerated."
As I looked down at Wendy, she was no longer just a powerful little girl; in my eyes, she was akin to an angel. Reaching down, I engulfed her in a tight hug; Wendy was the person I've been waiting for. "You're an Angel, Wendy." "E-EH, a-angel? T-That…" My words caused Wendy to deeply blush, as she avoided making eye contact.
"Oi! Listen up, bastards! Wendy is my little sister now! If anyone dares to touch her, I'll break your body! Got it!?" Carrying Wendy with one arm, I glared intensely at everyone, though no one bothered to intervene. "Gramps, get your ass over here and place a stamp on Wendy!" "Hoho, you don't even know if Wendy wants to join our guild, Cooper."
Chuckling, Gramps leaped off the bar and approached us, causing me to growl. "Which guild would dare take Wendy from me!? I'll destroy every damn guild in Ishgar if I have to!" As if I'd ever let this little angel of mine escape from my grasp; no one but me should be allowed to have her.
Ignoring Gramps, I held Wendy like a stuffed animal, looking at her with starry eyes. "Alright, Wendy, from now on, you must call me big bro, and you'll be joining Team Lucy… Hehehe, the enemies we'll be able to fight with you, just thinking about it gets my heart pounding!"
With Wendy on our team, even if I were near death, she'd be able to heal me right back up and allow me to continue fighting. For someone like me, I couldn't have asked for a better teammate; I would kill for a teammate like.
'Ahh, you're definitely my favorite little sister, Wendy.' "B-But I already agreed to join Team Natsu." Seeing Wendy's hesitant expression, I froze, only to gently set Wendy down and pat her head. "Stay here, Wendy. I have to talk with some people." Flashing her a smile, I quickly shifted my gaze to Natsu, Gray, and Erza.
However, they hadn't been sitting idly; the former two were already hiding behind Gramps, and Erza was standing right beside him, inching ever closer as my glare intensified on them. "Oi, you fucking brats, you've got some explaining to do."
Cracking my knuckles, I approached the trio, though Gramps intercepted me, trying to protect the three. "Cooper, relax. Wendy has the right to pick which team she wants to join; if she wants to join Team Natsu, she can do so." Enlarging his hand to block my path, Gramps looked at me with his fatherly smile, causing me to nod lightly.
"You're right, Gramps. However, I just want to talk with my precious little siblings, surely you won't stop me from attempting to persuade them, right?" As I faintly smiled while placing my hands behind me, Gramps raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing me, though he still nodded in agreement. "If it's in a civilized manner, then no."
As Gramps' arm moved, Erza, Natsu, and Gray fearfully gulped. "There is nothing more civilized than digging my fist into their faces." Scowling, I lunged at the three, though Erza acted quickly enough to requip into her adamantine armor; slamming my fist against her shield, creating several spider-web-like cracks, I'd only need another hit to break it, but I was punched into the wall by Gramps.
"Haa, I knew this would happen." "You ain't stopping me, Gramps, I'm not giving up Wendy so easily!" Emerging from the crack, I glared at Gramps, who had grown to the size of a giant and lunged at him; even if it were the god that had made Wendy descend from Heaven, I wouldn't give her up.
'That little angel is mine!'
___
___
Sitting at the bar, staring intensely at Natsu, who was seated with Wendy, Mira re-filled my cup, though I didn't pay her any heed. "Fufu, are you still upset she didn't pick your team, Big bro? It's been a few days already; you should let it go." "I want to crush someone's skull and bathe in their blood." I wasn't speaking metaphorically; I was genuinely that upset.
"Grr, dammit, Gramps!" Downing the cup, I slammed it on my head and glared at Gramps in the distance, who raised his head and happily waved at me, causing me to gnash my teeth. "Fuck! Is there a quest to handle Dark mages!? I need to let off some steam!"
Standing up, I stormed my way through the guild, heading to the second floor to search for quests, unfortunately, I didn't find a quest regarding Dark Mages, but there was an SS-class quest to subjugate a mutated magical beast wreaking havoc in the forest; apparently, it had gathered enough beasts to create a massive beast horde, so it was perilous.
'In Bosco? That's only a few days' travel, perfect. I'll use this to vent my anger.' Grinning, I ripped the paper from the quest board and walked over to the railing. "Lucy, Cana, get ready, we're leaving on a tough quest tomorrow!" "Eh, but we had just taken a quest, big bro?" I shot a glare at Lucy's refusal. "You call that pathetic ghost quest a quest? That wasn't shit. I've got a good quest."
Although Lucy was clearly skeptical, she still nodded, as for Cana, it was her fault for blacking out from drinking too much; she was coming whether she wanted to. "Hahah, I can't wait! I'll feast upon their bodies and bathe in their blood! It'll be a slaughter! Hahaha!"
"Haha, there goes big bro." "Wendy really dodged a bullet." "I pity Lucy and Cana." "Yeah, if big bro is that excited for a quest, you know it's pretty difficult, even for him."
Landing from the second floor, I approached Gramps, slamming the quest onto the table he was sitting on, breaking it. "That's coming out of your check, Cooper." "Hmph, just accept the damn quest." Chuckling, Gramps signed off the quest, causing me to yank it from him and stuff it into my pocket before leaving the guild, stepping onto the street of Magnolia.
Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I grumbled under my breath, still upset that I hadn't managed to get Wendy to join Team Lucy. "Tch, those brats don't even need her; they'd be fine without her."
Stopping by my favorite kabob spot, I munched on several of them before looking into the sky. "I hope Minerva is doing okay… Well, she hadn't sent a letter, so she's probably doing fine."