Chapter 40

Life was interesting. As she drifted idly above the heads of those who took care of her, Silver found herself wondering about life. She didn't know why she was suddenly pondering life. It would be rather useless for no one truly knew the answer to the question she was now asking herself. Not even the all knowing Archer. Those who claim to have the answer were surely liars or delusional. Since the very day she was born Silver had been acquiring knowledge. It came instinctively to her. Her search of knowledge has led to her discovering many things about the world and the people walking on the earth. Even then her knowledge was lacking for she misinterprets most of what she had learned. She was a child after all. Often times Erza or Archer would have to correct her when she made a wrong ȧssumption. She learned that as much as the books tell her she would forever be lacking knowledge. Archer had told her that and it was completely true. One can never truly know everything about the world. About life and existence. Not unless you're a deity. Having realized this she tried to search for the answers by the gods and goddesses Archer held as friends.

Of course she learned nothing. They were very determined to keep those answers to themselves.

"You can put me down now"

Silver drifted closer at the sound of Archer's voice. She came to rest on her head, wings fading into nothingness. She sat quietly as she stared down at the silver hair. Tiny paws patted her head softly as if trying to comfort her in some way. She tilted her head slightly as she continued to stare. Archer had been whining for some time now. She wanted Erza to put her down. It seems she wasn't a fan of riding piggyback. Silver thought it would be rather fun. It is actually. She does it all the time. Far better than putting effort into actually walking or flying. But Archer didn't think so.

"You're sick" Silver spoke as she patted Archer's head again. She hoped that helped somehow. It most likely didn't offer anything safe for a little comfort.

"No I'm not" Archer sighed, having repeated the same words over five times. She was not sick. That was an actual imposibility. Phoenix do not get sick. Their bodies are far too hot to house any harming bacteria or viruses. Even if they do catch a virus it would do little to nothing to them for their immune system was as powerful as them, so to speak. So the chance of Archer being sick as factually zero.

"Phoenix can not get sick" Erza recounted Archer's own words from memory.

"Exactly, so I do not understand why you're carrying me" Even as she protested she offered no physical struggle in Erza's arms.

"You were dizzy and nauseas" Silver pointed out blankly.

When Archer had stumbled out of the train she went on to almost fall over her own feet and throw up in some random trash can. She had gotten motion sickness on the train and for some reason she didn't take her medicine even after Erza told her to. The redhead failed to understand how she could forget to take her meds even after she told her multiple times.

"Yes, but I have already convalesced"

"I'll ȧssume that's another word for recovered" Erza mumbled having failed to recognized that word. Leave it to Archer to introduce her to words she'll most likely never use or hear from anyone else.

"Yes it is" Archer confirmed. "I have rejuvenated"

"You've been saying that for a while now"

"Yet you refuse to believe me"

"There is no reason not to believe you" Erza said simply. "You've never lied to me"

"Then put me down"

"No"

"Why?" Arxher was truly baffled. She was better. Erza understood that she felt better. There was clear communication between them. They clearly understand eachother. So how could they not come to the same conclusion?

Erza had a smile on her lips at the question. She wasn't putting her down because it was finally her carrying the other. It had always been Archer carrying her. Something about being princess charming. It was entirely unfair and she was always so smug about it. Next to that she would refuse to put her down even when she told her to. This was payback.

"Scarlet"

"You're whining like a child"

"I am a child"

Erza said nothing to that. Archer clearly had her moments. Funny how these moments never happen around the others. Erza was sure none of them had ever seen Archer act the way she does around her. She's truly herself with all her quirks.

"Is this because I always see the need to lift you?" Archer asked after some deep thought. When Erza giggled she got her answer. "I'm acting like a child you say"

"I don't consider this childish" Erza avowed.

"Well I do" Archer mumbled. "But that's alright"

"That so?"

"Of course" Archer sounded rather happy as she continued. Apparently she was over her whole wanting to be put down. "After all you are my knight and as such you're just protecting your princess"

The fact that Erza almost stumbled face first into a cobblestone path was somewhat humorous to Silver. Her steps stuttered for a moment at the words. Archer had never referred to her as "her knight". It had always been others reffering to her as such. Never Archer herself. Her suddenly calling her her knight felt entirely different than when she's normally ȧssociated with that title.

She really liked it.

But could she really be considered her knight? Archer was more than capable of taking care of herself. She did not need her to come in and save her. A knight was to protect their princess. But if their princess was more than capable what was their purpose then?

"Protection is always needed" Archer spoke, having seemingly read Erza's thoughts. "Or wanted perhaps" she was rather thoughtful as she spoke the words. "At some point in time I will need you to protect me, whether you believe that or not. When that time comes I truly hope you'll be there to catch me when I fall"

There it was again. That bittersweet tone Archer would sometimes adopt. It had Erza worrying. Archer seemed to be hinting at something that was to take place in the future. The more she hinted the more Erza would worry. This event that would take place. She may not know what it was and Archer most likely wasn't going to tell her, but she felt as if it wouldn't end very well for her.

"You worry for me" her words were but a whisper in her ear as her arms tightened just slightly around her shoulders.

No words left Erza's mouth in reply. How could she not worry? Archer was clearly going to be hurt in some way or another in the future and she worried there was nothing she could do. How could she protect her from what unknown threat was to come? She was pathetically weak, even though she had gotten stronger over the past year. Compared to Archer she wasn't even an ant under her boot. How was she to protect her from something capable of harming her?

"Do not think of the bad too much scarlet" Archer poked the side of her head in an effort to pull some sort of response from her. "It can be very depressing"

"Depression is bad" came the soft voice of Silver. Archer coul feel her shift on her head until she was hanging over her eyes, grey meeting her own.

"Yes it is" Archer agreed with a small smile. "So stay away from it okay?"

"I cannot say that I'll stay away from it for it could suddenly take hold, no?" She was thoughtful as she said this. She knew she was right when Archer made no move to correct her.

"That is unfortunate" Archer reached above her, carefully taking Silver by the collar and placing her on Erza's shoulder. She patted her head softly as she contemplated her next words. "But that's not to say it cannot be prevented. Remember to always come to us if something's bothering you, okay?"

She received a nod in answer, which was good enough when it came to Silver.

"You two take care of me" the exceed suddenly said as she climbed onto Erza's head. "Since the very day I was born"

"I wonder where you're going with this" Erza said quietly. There was this feeling in the back of her head. She knew where this was going. She knew what words would be leaving Silver's mouth.

"That would have to make you my parents"

There it is. She knew it.

"We're very good parents for eleven year olds" Archer said in amusement and some pride. She was very confident in her ability to raise another living creature even if she may seem incapable.

Erza only sighed. Still she couldn't help but smile as she let the two distract her from the unpleasant thoughts.

~~~~~~~

There came an ear splitting scream followed by the sound of something breaking. Whether it was wood or a human skull Cana didn't know and didn't care enough to find out. Her only reaction to the loud noises was to just bȧrėly glance away from her cards. A second was all it took for her to understand what was and had taken place. With a dry chuckle she went back to her cards. There was zero need for her to get involved. There came another scream, this time followed by an enraged roar. Again she chuckled, this time in true amusement. The poor buffoons. Sucks to be them. Truly. The idiots just had to anger her, didn't they? Well, now they can deal with the consequences. She was not going to save their ȧss. She wasn't that nice. It would make her look bad. They'll have to survive on their own, somehow.

"Um Cana"

"No can do Lisanna" Cana didn't even let her get past her name for she knew what would be asked of her. She turned a card upwards, brow quirking at what was revealed.

"But, she's really mad" worry was laced in her voice and even then Cana didn't budge.

"Not my problem. I'm not the one who pissed her off. Let the idiots deal with it themselves"

"She'll seriously hurt them this time"

"Archer comes home today, she'll fix them"

"But Cana" Lisanna whɨnėd. "You have to help them. I think they've been punished enough"

"She's your sister, why don't you go talk her down? " finally brown eyes met worried blue. Lisanna stood before her, small hands gripping the ends of her little dress. Cana sighed as she looked into her eyes, knowing she could not say no to the youngest Straus. "Don't pout"

"You know you're the only one who can talk some sense into her. She won't listen to me or big brother Elfman"

"But my cards" Cana gestured at said cards rather dramatically. "I'm busy, you see"

Another scream tore through the air and Cana looked up just in time to see Natsu flying across the guild. All she saw was a blob of pink and a streak of blue as Happy quickly made his way to his idiot friend. Cana snickered, finding the entire situation humorous.

"You're not very nice"

"Oh? I thought I was the sweetest thing to walk this earth" the sarcasm was heavy in Cana's voice.

With a annoyed groan the brunette abruptly sat up, hands on the table and eyes on Mira, who held a terrified Gray by the hair. She always had to snap her out of her little demon mode. She could be very sadistic and cruel when she transformed. Far more than she usually was. And while Cana enjoyed watching Natsu and Gray get pummeled she did agree with Lisanna. She did have to stop her. Not because she could hurt the boys, but because she'll trash the guild. It's already a mess. She didn't care to get a scolding from the master for something she didn't do.

"Mira!" Cana shouted as she boldy approached the angry girl. She didn't even flinch when demonic eyes snapped towards her. All she did was smirk as she came to stop before her. With a swift movement she grasped both wrists and tugged her out of the air. "You're being as dumb as those fools"

Mira growled and Cana flicked her forehead.

"Don't growl at me" Cana scolded. "Deactivate your magic already and stop being so dramatic. You're destroying the guild and I don't want the old man to talk my ears off again"

Cana smiled smugly when Mira ġrȯȧnėd. Slowly the transformation faded, leaving behind a still very pissed off Mira. She glared at Cana for a long while before looking away and huffing. She lightly tugged in Cana's grip, silently asking her to let go.

"You better not attack me when I do" Cana warned before she released her arms. She raised her own and took a step away from Mira. Thw guild was silent as they watched the two with bated breath. Mira looked as if she wanted to pounce and Cana didn't have a care in the world.

"I hate you"

With that Mira walked past her, stomping her feet as she did. Cana turned to watch her go, arms folded and patiently waiting for her to come back. She may be angry at her, but she was not going to sulk without her nearby just to annoy her.

And like clockwork Mira turned on her heels, groaning as she returned for Cana. She said nothing as she grabbed her by a single loop on her pants and dragged her off to their usual table.

"So" Cana smirked smugly.

"Don't talk to me"