Ember of the Starry Sky

The moon was high over Magnolia, casting silvery light on the cobblestone streets as Cana led Yukari up the winding path toward Fairy Hills. The dormitory loomed above them on a grassy hill, its arched windows glowing softly like the eyes of a friendly monster.

"So, this is Fairy Hills," Cana said, gesturing grandly as they approached. "Home sweet home."

"It looks like a castle… or a prison," Yukari said, eyeing the brick walls and towering structure. "Is it supposed to be this creepy?"

Cana grinned. "Wait till you meet the matron. She makes the building seem warm and cuddly."

The entrance to the dormitory was flanked by two stone pillars, each topped with a Fairy Tail symbol that seemed to glare down at them. Cana pushed open the double doors, revealing a cozy lobby lit by a wooden chandelier. The scent of freshly polished wood and faint lavender hung in the air.

"Welcome, welcome!" a shrill voice called out.

Yukari turned to see a tiny, wrinkled woman marching toward them, her tightly-bunned gray hair bouncing with each step. She wore a violet shirt under a dark red vest, and her skirt swished menacingly as she moved.

"This is Hilda," Cana whispered to Yukari, "the terrifying matron of Fairy Hills."

"I heard that, Cana," Hilda snapped, her sharp eyes narrowing.

Cana grinned sheepishly. "You look lovely tonight, Hilda!"

"Flattery will get you nowhere, young lady," Hilda said before turning her attention to Yukari. "And you must be the newcomer. Hoshizora, was it?"

"Yeah, that's me," Yukari replied.

Hilda's piercing gaze swept over her, making Yukari feel like a misbehaving child. "Hmph. You seem sturdy enough, but don't think you can slack off here. I run a tight ship, and I won't tolerate any nonsense."

Yukari raised an eyebrow. "I'm ten, not two. I think I can handle it."

Hilda blinked, momentarily stunned, before a faint smile tugged at her lips. "We'll see about that."

Once Hilda had thoroughly intimidated Yukari, Cana led her up a wide staircase to her room. The halls were lined with doors, each bearing a small plaque with the occupant's name. Cana's room was near the end of the corridor, and she pushed the door open with a flourish.

"Welcome to my lair!" Cana announced.

The room was cozy, with a bed pushed against one wall, a small desk littered with papers and empty juice bottles, and a window overlooking the dormitory grounds. A stack of books teetered precariously on a nearby shelf, and the faint scent of grapes lingered in the air.

"Nice place," Yukari said, kicking off her shoes. "A little messy, though."

"It's organized chaos," Cana said, plopping onto the bed. "Make yourself at home."

Yukari sat on the floor, stretching her legs. "So, what do people do at these sleepovers?"

"Talk, snack, make fun of people," Cana said, grabbing a bag of chips from her desk. "Here."

Yukari took a chip and crunched on it thoughtfully. "So… who's the easiest person to make fun of in the guild?"

"Wakaba," Cana said without hesitation. "That hair of his is a crime against humanity."

Yukari laughed. "What about Macao?"

Cana grinned. "He's not bad, but his eyebrows are so thick they probably have their own postal code."

They dissolved into giggles, the kind that made your stomach hurt.

As the night wore on, their conversation meandered from one topic to another. Cana taught Yukari how to braid hair (though Yukari's attempt looked more like a knot than a braid), and they made up ridiculous nicknames for everyone in the guild.

"Gray the Stripper," Yukari suggested.

"Wakaba the Walking Hair Gel Disaster," Cana added.

"Macao the Eyebrow King," Yukari said, laughing so hard she fell back onto the floor.

Cana tossed a pillow at her. "You're pretty funny for a kid."

"Thanks," Yukari said, catching the pillow and hugging it. "You're not bad yourself, for a grape addict."

Cana gasped in mock offense. "How dare you? Grapes are the food of champions!"

"Sure they are," Yukari teased.

Eventually, the laughter faded, and a comfortable silence settled over the room. Yukari stared up at the ceiling, her voice quieter now. "Hey, Cana… why did you join Fairy Tail?"

Cana hesitated, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. "That's kind of a big question, don't you think?"

Yukari shrugged. "We've got time."

Cana sighed, sitting cross-legged on the bed. "Okay, but you can't laugh."

"I won't," Yukari promised.

"Well…" Cana began, her voice soft. "I'm looking for someone. My dad."

Yukari blinked. "Your dad? He's in the guild?"

Cana nodded. "His name's Gildarts Clive. He's an S-Class mage."

Yukari tilted her head. "Never heard of him."

Cana chuckled. "That's not surprising. He's not around much. Always off on some dangerous mission or another. But… I wanted to be in the same guild as him. You know, in case he ever comes back."

Yukari was quiet for a moment before saying, "That's… kind of sweet."

Cana laughed, though it was a little shaky. "Don't get used to it. I'm not usually this mushy."

"Don't worry," Yukari said with a smirk. "I'll just make fun of you tomorrow to balance it out."

Cana grinned. "You'd better. Fair's fair." She stretched out on the bed, resting her head on her hands. "Alright, my turn. Why'd you join Fairy Tail, Yukari?"

Yukari froze for a moment, her eyes flickering to the window. The moonlight cast soft patterns across the room, and she traced them absently with her gaze. "That's... a bit of a long story," she said quietly.

Cana sat up, her expression curious but not pushy. "We've got time. And you already know my embarrassing backstory, so it's only fair."

Yukari let out a small chuckle. "Alright, but no interrupting, okay?"

"Scout's honor," Cana said, crossing her heart.

Yukari took a deep breath, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "Before I met Hinote… I didn't have anyone. My village hated me. Everyone called me cursed, maudite, like I was some kind of walking disaster. Even my parents…" Her voice wavered for a moment. "They didn't love me. They blamed me for everything bad that happened."

Cana's grin faded, replaced by a quiet frown. "That's awful…"

Yukari shrugged, trying to keep her voice steady. "It was what it was. But one day, a dark mage came to the village. He… destroyed everything. Everyone." She paused, staring at her hands. "I should've died too, but Hinote saved me. She came out of nowhere and fought him off."

Cana's eyes widened. "No way! She beat a dark mage?!"

"Yeah," Yukari said with a small smile. "Since that day, we've been inseparable. She… she's like a mom to me. The only real family I've ever had."

Cana was silent for a moment, then she reached over and lightly punched Yukari's shoulder. "Well, you've got me now too, you know. And Fairy Tail. We're not going anywhere."