Pet Eggs

"Fire Creation, Wolf Pack!" Mati gathered her magic power and waved both hands, creating five flame wolves that lunged at Mili with snapping jaws.

Mili hurriedly dodged backward. "Flame Explosion!"

The flame wolves and fireballs clashed fiercely, neither side giving way. Taking advantage of the opening, Mati circled behind Mili.

"Fire Creation, Vulture!" A flaming vulture swooped toward Mili.

"Flame Energy Blast!" Mili fired a flaming arrow, piercing straight through the flaming vulture.

Mati leaped high into the air and took a deep breath. "Fire Creation! Long Whip!"

Mati created two flaming long whips and lashed Mili with all her strength.

"Great Fiery Blast!" Mili barely escaped Mati's whipping and used the last of her magic power to cast her spell.

Faced with the enormous vortex of flames before her, Mati also drew upon her remaining magic power. "Fire Creation—Taotie!"

A flaming beast charged into the fire vortex at high speed. After struggling within it for a moment, the fire beast broke through the vortex.

"Roar!" The fiery beast roared and charged at Mili, instantly engulfing her in flames.

"Ah!" After a scream, Mili was burned black all over and crashed heavily to the ground.

Mati had just excitedly begun to jump for joy when all strength left her body. She stumbled and fell to the ground.

"Mati!" Feng Lan hurried over and helped her up. "How are you? You're not seriously hurt, are you?"

Mati nodded. "Mm, Brother Feng Lan, don't worry about me. I just overexerted my magic power a little."

"Hey! Mr. Feng Lan, Miss Mati, how are you two? Nothing happened, right?" Jura's voice called from the distance.

Feng Lan and Mati turned around. "Mr. Jura, Mr. Ichiya, and Mr. William, why are you here? Did you settle things on your end?"

William nodded. "Ah, that's right. We only had fewer than a hundred A- and B-rank mages to deal with. Easy!"

Ichiya chimed in, "Indeed, though Miss Mati carries a somewhat disheveled fragrance, men~"

Feng Lan explained, "Mati used a little too much magic power. She needs to rest."

Mati scratched her head and said embarrassedly, "Sorry for causing everyone trouble... But that means the mission is complete, right?"

Jura nodded. "Of course! This was only possible thanks to everyone's combined efforts!"

Feng Lan gave everyone a slight bow. "I'm very glad to have met all of you. This cooperation has been a great pleasure."

Mati looked at them somewhat reluctantly. "Are we already going to part ways? That was so fast~"

Ichiya struck a pose. "One day, we shall smell the fragrance of reunion again, men~"

William said with a cheerful smile, "Then it's time for us to head back as well. Time to say goodbye. May the friendship between our guilds endure..."

With that, they parted one by one and returned to their guilds.

When Feng Lan arrived at the outskirts of Magnolia, two strange objects caught his attention.

"Huh? What are these things?" Feng Lan picked up two rather large eggs from the ground. "Pet Eggs?"

Feng Lan looked over the two strange eggs, shook them, then poked them. "Well, whatever. Since I happened to find them... I'll take them. Wendy and that guy have both been wanting to raise a pet."

As he spoke, he placed the two eggs into his Equip Space.

"I'm back!" Before long, Feng Lan arrived at the guild entrance and pushed open the doors.

"Yo, how did the mission go?" Makarov sat at the guild counter and greeted Feng Lan.

Feng Lan waved a hand. "Pretty easy. Broken Wings of Blazing Heaven was nothing more than an empty name."

Makarov helplessly took a sip of wine. "That's only for you... Quite a few Light Guilds have suffered at their hands."

Feng Lan shrugged and turned to find Wendy. "Wendy, didn't you say before that you wanted to raise a pet?"

Wendy ran over excitedly. "That's right! Brother, did you buy one for Wendy?"

Feng Lan patted Wendy's head. "Hehe, of course. But you have to take good care of it, understand?"

Wendy nodded eagerly. "Mm, Wendy understands!"

Feng Lan smiled and took a white egg from his Equip Space. "You'll take care of this egg. No matter what hatches from it, Wendy has to look after it carefully, okay~"

"Mm! Leave it to Wendy!" Wendy took the Pet Egg and happily bounced around.

Then Feng Lan noticed Laxus standing nearby, staring fixedly at them with jealousy and resentment, as though he were saying, Feng Lan, you've changed. You don't love me anymore...

Feng Lan smiled and walked over to Laxus. "Ahem... Laxus, could you do me a favor?"

Laxus turned his head away. "What favor?"

Feng Lan took out the other egg from his Equip Space and handed it to Laxus. "I have two of these eggs. If I give them both to Wendy, she definitely won't be able to handle them, so I'll trouble you to raise this one."

Laxus abruptly turned his head back, though he still spoke haughtily. "Then... fine. I'll reluctantly agree! Treat me to a meal later!"

Just as Feng Lan and the others were talking, the guild doors were pushed open.

Natsu and Lisanna's voices came from the entrance. "Brother Feng Lan! Look what we brought you! Such a huge egg~"

Natsu and Lisanna each carried a Pet Egg as they walked into the guild.

Everyone stared blankly at the eggs in their arms.

Natsu also noticed the eggs in Wendy and Laxus's hands. "Whoa, you guys have them too!?"

Wendy spoke first. "Brother gave them to us."

Natsu said in surprise, "So Brother Feng Lan has some too... And Lisanna and I even brought back an extra one especially for him..."

Deeply moved, Feng Lan patted Natsu and Lisanna's heads. "Oh, I don't have any? So you really brought one for me too?"

Lisanna nodded. "Yeah, this one."

Lisanna handed the egg in her arms to Feng Lan. Feng Lan accepted it and examined it carefully before asking, "Then what are you planning to do with the other egg?"

Lisanna puffed out her cheeks. "What do you mean, what are we planning to do with it? Natsu and I are going to raise this egg!"

Everyone shouted in shock, "Huh!? Natsu... raising a pet!?"

Natsu snapped irritably, "Why are you so surprised, hey!?"

Feng Lan warned him uneasily, "Natsu... don't roast it..."

Lisanna patted her chest. "Don't worry, Brother Feng Lan. I'll keep an eye on Natsu!"

Natsu said aggrievedly, "Lisanna, why don't you believe in me either..."

Lisanna said somewhat awkwardly, "Hehe, of course I believe in you. I just want to help Natsu out."

Feng Lan smiled in amusement, then took Wendy home. "Wendy, let's go home!"

Laxus walked out of the guild carrying his egg. "I'm leaving too... What a pain."

After everyone had left, Natsu carried the Pet Egg toward his home.

Lisanna hurriedly chased after him. "Natsu, wait for me! I want to hatch this egg with Natsu too!"

Natsu asked in confusion, "So you're staying at my place these next few days...?"

Lisanna nodded. "Yeah, but it was bound to happen sooner or later! After all, I'm Natsu's future bride~"

Natsu's face reddened. "Fine, fine, come if you want. You're saying that again..." As he spoke, Natsu grabbed Lisanna and started pulling her out of the guild.

Mira said with a smile, "Natsu, be gentle with my little sister tonight~"

Natsu shouted with black lines all over his face, "Can you ever think about something normal!? We're not at that stage yet!"