Except Kabe's hand, halfway extended, veered off entirely, dodging her outstretched palm, and instead landed squarely on top of her head, giving her small, very real, very solid golden haired scalp a thorough, satisfying rub.
"I've seen pictures before, but seeing the First Master in person, this tiny, I just had to give that a good rub."
Kabe murmured to himself, looking thoroughly pleased.
But those words completely shattered whatever composure Mavis had left.
"Wh, who are you calling tiny?! I am the founding First Master of Fairy Tail! Apologize to me right now!!!"
But no sooner had she finished than Ultear cautiously peeked her head out from behind Kabe. Seeing that the person who'd startled her so badly a moment ago was, of all things, this tiny "little girl," she let out a breath of relief, though her confusion remained as she turned to Kabe for confirmation.
"You're calling this little kid the First Master? She's really our founding Master?"
'Little, little kid?! I am the founding tactician of Fairy Tail herself, and here I am getting called a little kid by one of my own guild's descendants.'
In that moment, Mavis felt every last bit of resolve drain out of her, seized by the sudden urge to crawl straight back into her grave and never come out again, mouth sealed shut for good.
Ten minutes later, Mavis sat there happily switching between hands, pudding in one, a slice of cake in the other, thoroughly enjoying herself. Across from her, Ultear elbowed Kabe quietly, leaning in to whisper.
"So, hasn't the First Master been dead for decades now? Then what exactly is going on with the person sitting right there? Faked her death, or some kind of clone?"
"Neither, technically. What you're looking at right now is the First Master's ghost."
"A ghost? Since when do ghosts eat food?"
"Then think of her as a more advanced kind of lingering thought form, I suppose. She's Fairy Tail's founding Master after all, having a few strange and mysterious abilities isn't exactly out of place."
Watching the two of them murmuring to each other from across the way, Mavis swallowed a mouthful of cake and couldn't resist chiming in.
"Kabe's explanation is close enough, actually. Just think of me as a special kind of ghost, that works fine."
"I'm terribly, terribly sorry for calling you a little kid earlier!!"
Ultear hurriedly bowed her head in apology, completely missing the way Mavis's mouth had started twitching.
'You just said it again, right now!'
"Well, it, it's fine, I suppose. Given how small I really am, I guess it's not that surprising..."
As she trailed off, Mavis sniffled audibly, clearly on the verge of tears.
Startled, Ultear immediately whirled around and punched Kabe hard, shouting furiously.
"You made the First Master cry! Apologize to her right now!"
Rubbing his now aching shoulder, Kabe looked thoroughly exasperated.
"Come on, don't take it so seriously, Mavis is just messing with us."
"Shut up and apologize!!"
Under Ultear's relentless pressure, Kabe eventually caved and apologized to Mavis after all. But just as he'd said, Mavis really had just been joking around, and didn't actually take the whole thing to heart (probably).
Once she'd finished off the last cookie, Mavis rubbed her belly, which showed not the slightest change despite everything she'd eaten, and with eyes suddenly sparkling, dropped a request that caught both of them completely off guard.
"Kabe, Ultear, take me back with you. Back to Fairy Tail."
"Huh?" the two of them said in perfect unison.
-------------------------
Patreon Advance Chapters: patreon .com / ElvenKing20