Benevolent Gladiolus

[Raine Fleur]

The tall girl dressed in a uniform sat down on a chair, bent over as she laced her pair of boots. Her long dark green hair in twin pigtails slightly covered her face as she focused on tieing the laces. At sixteen-years old, Raine Fleur was known as one of the youngest member of the guild known as Ocarcle Phoenix. Despite her age, she was one of the only members who was an Ex-Quipp Mage and Raine took her job serious as everyone else in the guild. Currently, she had arrived back to Tully Village after completing another mission. Nothing seemed to dampen her spirits until Raine tripped over her loose boot laces.

Sighing, Raine finished tieing the boot's laces and straightened herself up. Tilting her head up towards the sky, she closed her eyes for a moment soaking in the warm sunlight and smiled. The aroma of spices from food vendors and the sounds of people busy at the market gave Raine a sense of comfort. Slinging her traveling bag over her shoulder, she continued to walk through Tully Village with her head held high.

[Altair Eleison]

I was walking through the village, just taking in the sights and sounds of the area, when I saw the familiar sight of a young woman, with dark-green twintails. Walking up behind her, I leaned over her left shoulder while tapping on her right. "Hey, Raine. How'd it go?" Introducing, the youngest member of our guild, Raine Fleur, aged 16. She is quite the looker, to be sure. Not much different from our leader, in actuality.

She was a talented mage, in her own right, but her means were, in my opinion, awkward. She refused to give up, even when it was futile. Not that this was bad, but it wasn't very endearing either. But alas, who was I to judge someone's personality. It's not exactly, like I was doing something just and right... Sighing, I stretched, looking into her eyes, gently.

"I know you just got back, but you don't mind another mission, do you, Raine? Caterina told me to come meet you, to see if you wanted to go with me. It's alright if you don't. I don't mind going alone."

[Raine Fleur]

"I know you just got back, but you don't mind another mission, do you, Raine? Caterina told me to come meet you, to see if you wanted to go with me. It's alright if you don't. I don't mind going alone."

If there was one person in the guild that Raine often partnered up with on missions it had to be Altair Eleison. Long before the beginning of the guild, Raine had been friends with Altair and Caterina and their friendship grew even more with the passing years although Altair was more relucant to admit it.

Smiing, Raine couldn't help but feel excited as she thought about taking on another mission.

"Of course, I don't mind. I would love to go on another mission!"

[Altair Eleison]

I stretched, smiling. "I don't know what it is yet, so yeah. We still have to go back to the guild house. I figured you might want to get a change of clothes or something. I know we're doing some traveling. Caterina said it was going to require us to go further away from here." I winked. "I figure one of those missions that a bigger guild, in their town can do, but won't because of the person's status. They have so many requests, that we get the smaller missions. Hopefully that will change soon, you know?"

I turned, walking in front of her, as we headed back to the guild hall. "I'm sure you want to let Caterina how your last mission went." I smiled, turning to face her. "I am quite impressed, that you went alone. You have never gone on a mission alone before. I'm sure it went well, I have faith in you, but it is certainly impressive. I'm proud of you, Raine." I stopped, patting her on the head gently.

[Raine Fleur]

Feeling Altair pat her head, Raine pouted playfully.

"I'm not a kid, you know."

True, she wasn't a kid but since Raine was the youngest memeber to join the guild, it wasn't uncommon for people to treat her like one. Out of all of the people at the Guild, it seemed like Altair and Caterina were the only ones who treated her equally.

"Yes, I'm sure Caterina will be pleased to hear that I completed my mission. I can't wait to hear what our next mission will be!"

Raine admired Caterina greatly. At an early age, she strived to be like Caterina who often reminded her of what an older sister would be like if she had one. Not only that, Raine was amazed at the abilities Caterina could use during battle. Any praise Raine recieved from Caterina, she would treasure and if there was anything she could improve on Raine would focus on it.

[Altair Eleison]

"I know, I know." I smiled, as we reached the small village house, that was, for the time being, the Oracle Phoenix headquarters. "But, you're also younger than me, Raine. I have to continue playing my big brother role, right?"

"Oh, that's what you play? Since when?" A female's voice came from the corner of the room we entered. A girl, with reddish-brown hair, wearing a tan jacket, over a black-blouse and matching skirt, sitting at a desk. Her legs were crossed, and she had set down the pen she was writing with. "Oh, Raine." She smiled at the younger girl, closing her eyes. "How did it go?"

Meet Caterina Firenze. The leader of our small, currently three-person guild. She was also rather attractive, along with Raine, and was the oldest of the three of us, being one year older than myself, and two years older than Raine. She started the guild, probably back five years ago, before we even officially became one, when she taught us magic and taught me how to use a sword.

Caterina stood up, pushing the chair back, and walking towards the both of us, her shin-high boots echoing against the wood floor of the main meeting room of our guild headquarters. "She said it went well. I'm impressed..." Caterina held up her right hand, the stamp on the back of said hand.

"I was talking to Raine. You be quiet, Altair." I sighed, as Caterina put all her focus on Raine.

[Erza Scarlet]

==========================
Mission
==========================

Please find my dear kitty Tamacchi.
It left our house and has been lost
since then. I fear for the worst.
It might be a rare breed, but that is
not my concern. I just want it back.
Find it and you will be paid:

50.000

P.S.: She is a bit shy, so don't scare
her.

==========================

[0/3 to finish the mission]

[Raine Fleur]

Standing still, Raine looked directly at Caterina. "As my first mission, I believe it went well and the person who requested the mission appeared to be pleased. Overall, I like to think it went rather smoothly."

Then she bowed politely. "Thank you for allowing me to go on my first mission."

As she straightened herself up, Raine noticed a piece of paper on the table behind Caterina. "Oh, is that another request? Altair mentioned something about another mission had come up..."

[Altair Eleison]

I took the sheet and looked at it skeptically. "You choice the two of us, two people, to find a cat, Caterina?" She narrowed her eyes, turning and hitting me.

"...who is the guild master? Besides, it's a little girl's cat, in our village! How can you be so heartless!?" Caterina sighed, walking around behind the desk. "I can just leave it to Raine, I guess..."

I sighed, looking off to the side, grabbing the sheet and walking away. Damn her and her guilt trips! "Fine, we'll both do it. Just give us a more important mission next time." I turned to leave, not noticing the victorious smile on her face.

"Of course, of course~ I know you two will find it though. Good luck!" I tucked the sheet into my pocket, and walked out of the building, my hands in my pockets.

"Let's get this over with, Raine..."

[Raine Fleur]

Following him outside of the guild, Raine couldn't help but giggle. It was so much like Altair to say something like that.

"I know this may not be the most exciting request but everytime we finish one that increases the chance of people recognizing our guild!" Raine assured him with a smile.

"Let's go meet with the client so we can gather more information about the cat, Altair."

[1/3]

[Altair Eleison]

I sighed, face-palming, following after her. "I'm going to let you take lead on this one then, Raine." It sometimes pissed me off, that Caterina treated me like that. She acted like I was someone that she could push around and tell what to do. Well, in all honestly, she could. I wouldn't dare face her in a fight of any kind. She is the one who taught me all she knew. Not all I know, but still. She is scary...

I sighed again, as we walked past a few houses, towards the village house where the person supposedly lived. I knocked on the door, and a small girl opened the door, shyly, looking up at Raine and I. I backed up, letting Raine take over this mission from here.

In all honesty, if the cat was in a tree, like cats usually are...well, Raine was way more suited for this mission than I was... Of course, that's if we could even find this thing.

Bah, what a waste of our skills and resources...

[1/3]

[Raine Fleur]

Smiling down at the little girl, Raine knelt down to her level. "Hi, we're from the guild. Were you the one who lost a cat?"

Shyly, the child noded her head. "Tamacchi...it's all my fault. Mama sent the letter to the guild. Please, find Tamacchi!"

"There's no need to worry. We will definately return Tamacchi to you! I just want to ask a few questions, is that okay?"

"Okay..."

Raine thought for a moment. "What color is Tamacchi? Do you know where you last saw your cat?"

"He's white...and I lost him over by the clock tower. I...I'm afraid he might have climbed up cause Tamacchi likes to be up high..."

It wouldn't be the first time a cat climbed up the clock tower but none the less dangerous. Gently, Raine patted the girl's head.

"Thank you very much for that information. It will be very helpful for us in finding Tamacchi."

After saying good-bye to the child, Raine turned to Altair. "It looks like we'll be heading off towards the clock tower."

[2/3]

[Altair Eleison]

I sighed, nodding as I followed her lead to said clock tower. Such a simple task was really not what I was expecting. But, whatever. This is why Raine was in charge now, and not me. Not that Caterina had decided it as such, but I had resigned it to her, letting her take charge. I really wanted to see how she handled herself, while on a mission.

We reached the clock tower rather quickly and I started to look around, while Raine did the same, walking towards the door that opened into the tower. I looked around on the bottom floor and then started to climb my way up the stairs, going to the second floor. I opened the window and looked down at Raine. "I'm going to look in here, alright, Raine?"

I didn't wait for a response as I closed the window and walked up the stairs again. I repeated a sweep with each of the floors, up until the seventh, while I continued the slow monotonous climb up to the top. I kept my sword tied to my belt, as I did this, not feeling a need for it. I continued climbing up until the ninth and final floor and sighed, walking to the door that lead out to the clock face, for repairs and any other issues.

I looked around out there, trying to find anything just as high, that a cat would be in, and sighed again. This was pointless. The cat wasn't here. I looked down to see Raine looking around on the ground. Where she was searching, I wasn't quite sure, but I turned around to go back down and help her finish hers, when I heard a soft sound.

Nyan...

I looked around trying to see where it came from. I looked up, and there it was.

...on the roof...

Just my luck. I turned around and looked up at the awning of the roof, and tried to find an easy way to get up there. Nope, not something I could do. Resigning myself to that, I quickly hurried down the stairs and out the door, to see Raine.

"Raine. I think I found the cat, but it's at a place I can't reach." I pointed above me, to the clock tower.

"...the roof."

[2/3]

[Raine Fleur]

Raine sighed. "I don't see how a cat can climb all the way up there!"

Smiling, she turned to Altair and did a half salute. "Leave it to me! I will go get the cat down before you know it."

Upon reaching the final floor, Raine opened the door leading out onto the balcony and felt a cool breeze brush past her face. Ever so carefully, Raine made her way out onto the ledge and turned to face the roof. Despite having been up to the clock tower countless times since she was a child, this would be the first time for Raine to actually climb onto the rooftop. Being up high bothered Raine sometimes but she refused to let that get in the way of completing a task. Eventually, Raine managed to climb onto the rooftop.

Whispering under her breath, Raine said out loud.

"Phoneix Glide."

In the flick of an eye, Raine's boots transformed into a completely different pair of boots with wings attached to them. Gliding over towards the cat, Raine gently picked up the white cat.

"It's okay, Tamacchi. You'll be back home, soon!"

Leaping off the rooftop, Raine gently glided to the ground below. Raine let out a sigh of relief as her boots touched solid ground. Turning around, she smiled at Altair.

"Okay, let's bring the cat back."

[3/3]

[Altair Eleison]

I sighed, stretching as we headed back to the little girl's house. "Good job, Raine." I patted her on the head, smiling, as she held the cat in her arms gently. "I knew this job was suited for you~" Of course, I was slightly teasing her. Really, there was no reason for Caterina to send both Raine and me on this mission.

I sighed again, as we approached the small village house, behind Raine. "Well, let's return this kitten, to it's owner. I hope she's happy that we did this, Raine."

[3/3]