'Is this the test subject?'

'Y - Yes ma'am, it's this one.'

'Why is it so...pale?'

'It has no exposure to sunlight, ma'am.'

'It's too thin.'

'I - I apologize, I will find a way to fatten her up.'

'Her? Experiments shouldn't have a gender.'

'R - Right, I - I apologize.'

'This one is the most improved one, isn't it?

'Yes.'

'Then it shall be beneficial in the military use, although, it does have such a pretty face.'

'Hmm...ma'am, what's happening!?'

'It's on a spasm, someone, hold it down!'

'It's not stopping!'

'ALL HANDS ON DECK, EMERGENCY IN SECTION 1A. I REPEAT EMERGENCY!'

'Hold its legs, you grab its arms.'

'Inject the needle! NOW.'

...

'I did it, ma'am.'

'Good, it stopped moving... what's that light?'

'It's coming from the middle of her chest!'

' This wasn't supposed to happen! '

' Ahh, its blinding...!?'

'I can't see anything!

'The light is gone ma'am, please open your eyes.

'No!'

'My lad - what - t!'

'She's gone!'

...

Experiment 1A POV

Cold. It was just, cold.

I stood and watched as people passed by. They all looked different, but went by me without a care. I shivered slightly, the rags I called clothes did nothing to shield me from the harsh cutting winds coming from all directions and the alley I called home, did nothing to stop shield me from the pouring rain.

Thunder clashed in my ears and lighting echoed in my eyes. I whimpered slightly, tightening the grip around my knees a bit. My eyes drooped slightly, I didn't even have the energy to keep them open. The lack of food had me weak and exhausted.

How long had it been since I had last eaten?

Sighing slightly, I placed my head between my knees; tears welled up in my eyes. I doesn't matter anyway, soon enough they'll find me again. Either that or i'll die of hunger or thirst. Lifting my head just in time ,I narrow my eyes to catch a color, one that i've seen so much of.

Scarlet.

The owner of it, was a woman.

She was wearing a weird silvery material, one that I recognized as metal, all around her arms and her chest. Along with that she was wearing a strange color skirt.

I think it is called blue.

A small sliver knife hung from her waist and a pair of black boots were on her legs. A flash of silver peeked out from her ears, my perceptions guessed that it was a pair of earrings. It seemed that she was in her late teens or early twenties, considering the look of her face. The way she held herself in confidence led me to believe that she wasn't just a normal woman. The knife also contributed to that. A normal person wouldn't have even noticed that, then again, I could never be normal. They wouldn't allow it.

I shook my head and kept my gaze on the ground. Although it was normal for me to observe passerby's, they usually didn't spike my interest. It was already strange that the Scarlet haired woman had captured my thoughts for so long. My grumbling stomach cut my head of all images and fatigue washed over me in a wave.

A small, sad smile graced my lips.

If I died, at least I wouldn't have to go back to the lab.

As the females' head turned upwards shifted little to the left, the breath I was holding was let out. My heart plummeted down slightly and I was shocked to say that a new batch of tears welled up in my eyes.

I felt...disappointed.

Surprise coursed through me, along with understanding. I had already come to the fact that nobody would help me, but to actually feel the disappointment, that's was whole other story.

Humans are selfish.

At least I had learned one thing that the lab taught me.

Although, it was a coincidence and a stroke of luck, when she found me.

Her eyes, peered into the dark alley I was residing in. They skimmed past me, only to freeze and land right on my petite body. Fear griped my heart and my hands had turned cold.

She had found me and she was going to take me back to the lab.

I trembled even more and if I had any water in my body, my hands would've started to sweat. I started to scan my surroundings, searching for places to escape. I have no energy, so I couldn't have moved without causing myself to faint. I had thought that I could use that wall and walk past her, without her seeing me.

Yeah. No.

Judging by the look on her face, she had already noticed me and if I had moved it would only make her be certain that I was there. My chapped lips, rubbed against each other and clearly showed that I was in no position to fight or run. So that only left one option.

I needed to stay as still as I can and hope that she passed onwards.

That didn't happen. The scarlet - haired female walked forward into the alley and kept her eyes trained on my small figure.

"Hello?"

Not answering, I kept quiet and kept my eyes between my knees, if she's was taking me back, then I might as well not see her hideous face.

The next thing she did however, surprised me.

She crouched down next to me, before muttering softly,

"Hello little one, what's your name?"

Her voice was sweet, soft and melodious. It sounded soothing and comforting, like candy that was on the tip of your tongue. I peered up at her and her soft brown eyes clashed with my own icy blue ones.

The air seemed to have gone from my lungs, as I stared at the woman in front of me. Her eyes captivated me, they looked soft and sweet, almost like chocolate dipped in honey.

She isn't from the lab. That much is clear. Her eyes are unlike the lifeless eyes that are in the holders of the people in them. Still, I must be careful.

When I didn't answer, an emotion flashed in her eyes, one that was gone as soon as it came.

Sadness.

Understanding.

"My name's Erza Scarlet."

Erza Scarlet. How perfect that name sounded.

Scarlet, like the color of blood.

"Where are your parents ?"

The question caused me to cock my head sideways at her.

Parents? What are those..

Taking my silence as an answer, the Scarlet haired woman hummed to herself, before peering at my body closer.

Her eyes widened slightly when she saw the state that my clothes that I am in. Torn up, dirty rags; scratches and bruises decorated my arms and legs, along with ragged black hair, that laid limply around my face.

"How long has it been since you've eaten."

Opening my mouth, I tried to speak. Slowly, but surely, I do.

"D - Don't t-take m-me b-back."

I winced slightly, after hearing my cracked voice after so long. It sounded creaky, like a hinge that hasn't been oiled up in a long time.

Worthless.

"Back where?" The woman, Erza, asked me.

Swallowing my own saliva, I opened my mouth and tried to speak again, but failed. Giving up, I just shut my mouth.

Erzas' eyes narrowed slightly in anger. Who it's directed to I didn't know, but I would be lying if I said that I wasn't slightly scared. Whimpering slightly, I curled into a tighter circle. Her eyes soften and Erza reached out to brush a strand of black hair from my face. Peering into my face, her own constructed into a small smile.

"Would you like some food?"

Her question, sent my brain signals to a halt. The electric signals all warn me, telling me how this was all a plan, a trap to get me under her control. My mind flashed back to images, all that happened because I was foolish enough to accept these types of requests. When I looked up at her face however, it made all those thoughts stop.

Even from a young age, I was congratulated for being able to observe a persons' abilities through looking at their body language and eyes. It was the only thing that I excelled at in the Lab.

Her eyes, showed me that all she wants to do is keep me safe; empathy is in it, crystal clear. She knows what it's like to be abandoned.

I nodded, yes. It's a small nod, one that if she wasn't standing so close she would've missed it.

Smiling brightly, the older woman held out her hands to help me up, before realizing that I didn't have enough power to walk. Gently lowering her arms, I tensed as she unexpectedly picked me up. I watch as her face frowns slightly, at the fact of how light I was.

It's not my fault that I didn't get much to eat.

As we walked down the sidewalk, I noticed that the rain seemed to have lessened, the only thing left was a light sprinkle of water. Closing my eyes, I turned my head slightly upwards and enjoyed the warm sun along with the occasional water droplet, that landed on my face. I laid my head onto Erzas' side and rested, waiting for her to get to the place she wanted to be.

Soon, we reached our destination. A tall building, that had weird lights flashing around on the inside. As Erza opened the door, I squinted my eyes at the bright light. People started looking a us, and immediately I shrank away. My body and brain wasn't used to attention and often when I was near people, I tended to become paranoid.

For a good reason.

The shadows were everywhere.

Subconsciously a small whimper came out of my mouth and I buried my face deeper into Erzas' side. Noting my discomfort, she walked past all of the prying eyes and took me upstairs to a room. Locking the door, she set me down in a seat and went somewhere, leaving me to examine the room. Slightly scared, I curled up on the chair, my stomach protesting in pain and hunger.

The walls were a plain gray, with the occasional portrait. Their was only one sword hanging on the wall, these two pieces of information was sufficient enough for me to speculate that she does not actually live here, and was staying here for a short period of time.

The windows were shut, which either meant that Erza was a secretive person, and that she has many people after her or it was that she doesn't like looking outside. The answer was probably the former, considering that the latter was quite a foolish reason to close the windows.

Her bed was made, which meant that she was an extremely organized person. The room service could've made it, but looking at the way it was folded, meant that she herself had personalized it.

Footsteps shook me out of my thoughts. Looking up, I saw Erza come back with a tray of food and a glass of water. Just looking at it made my stomach cry out and my throat to clench.

Sitting down next to me, she places the food in front of me, before sitting back. My arms immediately reach out for that water, before hesitating.

What if she poisoned it?

As if she had sensed my mistrust, Erza took a small sip of the water and a spoonful of the food, before eating it. After seeing she was fine, I nodded and she lifted the glass to my own mouth.

Water. Cold refreshing water hit my throat and tears welled up in my eyes. It seemed to last forever, but soon the time the water runs out of the glass and I can't stop myself when I open my mouth and asked a pitiful, "More?"

Erza smiled softly, before setting my glass down and saying,

"I'll give you more, but you need to eat food first."

I stared at the food in front of me, the aroma hit my nose and made my stomach grumble loudly. The temptation to eat it was hitting me in full force, but I didn't know how to. I could always use my hands, but I didn't think that it would be useful for me to try and lift them. Seeing my confusion, Erza lifted up these wooden sticks and took some of the long yellow strings and held it to my mouth.

"Eat."

Carefully placing them in my mouth, I chewed it before opening my mouth and quickly asking for more. It was gone in record time. Standing up, Erza went to put the plate away. A sudden overwhelming sense of fear hit me and I immediately grabbed her skirt.

I didn't want to be alone. When she looks down at me in confusion I speak, my voice slightly less oily.

"Don't leave."

A soft smile broke through her face and she patted my head before saying,

"Don't worry, i'll be right back. "

I nodded, blushing slightly I placed my hands in my lap.

Foolish. Utterly foolish.

Soon she came back before sitting across from me. I looked towards the side, to escape from her searching eyes. The air grew weird and I had found myself unable to say anything.

Should I leave now?

"My name is Erza Scarlet."

My head snapped towards her face and she held my eyes with her own. She then continued to speak, her voice unwavering and calm, her eyes not once leaving my own.

"I was born in a place called Rosemary village. It was a small village, with not many people in it."

"I grew up in an orphanage, the villagers had said that they found me as a baby, with no parents. I was quiet as a child and didn't have many friends, but it was still a good life that I had. That all changed on my 10th birthday."

I understood.

She was about to tell me her past.

"The night that I turned 10, was a horrific one. People in long black cloaks came to our village, they set fire to the houses and kidnapped the children."

Sounded familiar.

"I managed to hide one of the girls, before I was taken as well. The intruders took us to an island, one that was a lush land with stones and trees, their they threw us into a compound. From that day onwards, I, along with multiple of other children were enslaved, into building a tower."

Enslaved. Such a jarring cruel word.

" I hated it there, until one day... I got transferred into another compound. I met a boy their, one who still to this day, can cause my heart to ache. "

Erza paused, before scrunching up her eyes, she seemed troubled, as if traveling back in time and revisiting those memories.

"His name, was Jellal."

"Y-You don't have to tell me." I quickly interject, feeling slightly shy.

Pathetic. I am actually stuttering.

She pauses, before turning her gaze onto me and saying,

"Oh...but I do."

And she did. She told everything. From the 'betrayal', to going to Fairy Tail, she even told me about her friends and family. The love she held for them, was quite startling. I never knew that one could feel this way for people. Then again, i've only ever felt like that for one person.

And it was because I loved her like a sister, she was exterminated.

"Fairy Tail, is an important place, not only because we are the top guild in Magnolia, but also because we treat each other just like nakama."

" Nakama.."

"It means family." Erza quickly explains.

I stayed quiet for a while, before lifting my head and asking,"What's a guild?"

Erza turns slightly pink, embarrassed. For what reason, I don't know.

"A guild, a guild is a place for people who use magic."

With that one word, my world had went out of control.

Magic.

"Are you alright?" the redhead asked me kindly, wondering why i'm so quiet.

" Magic. "

"Yes, people from guilds have magic." She answers, uncertainty.

My mouth started moving of its' own accord and my brain froze.

"Magic, is that what's called?"

"You, you have magic as well?" Erza asked me softly, causing me to grow silent, before turning my head up to meet hers.

"I-I suppose you could call it magic. Although, I am not aware if magic is supposed to cause you pain, or if magic is supposed to make you forget your own presence."

Erza grows quiet, before scrutinizing my facial features.

"Come with me."

"W-What?"

"Come with me, to Fairy Tail."

I pause and considered her words. I had been running, running for too long. The shadows will always be after me, even if I join Fairy Tail. They will be in constant trouble and their lives will be on the lines. I couldn't be selfish and think of my well being before theirs. I opened my mouth to reject the offer when I remembered what someone once told me.

"Find people who love you for who you are."

Those words washed over me and I finally made my decision.

"Okay."

She smiled slightly, before hesitating and embracing me. My face was pushed upon her metallic shirt and my feet, crouch downwards.

"W-What a-are y-you doing?" I asked quickly, I felt slightly embarrassed.

"Hugging you. Do you not know what a hug is ? " Erza asked, a bit shocked.

"Hug..."

Hesitantly, I burrowed my face in her neck and breathed in the aroma of her hair. I then wrap my arms around her waist. The warmth emitting from her body was homely and it hit me in places that were dark and deep. This feeling, I've felt it before.

A long time ago.

It was then, I decided to tell her my name.

"Experiment 1A."

"Hmm?"

" That's my name, Experiment 1A."

Erza stepped back, her lips frowning, before making a thoughtful expression. She then smiled before saying,

"That won't do."

I furrowed my eyebrows as she finally opened her mouth to speak again,

"Your new name is Katana, Katana Kazane Scarlet."

"Katana..." I whispered softly; The name evoked something powerful in me.

"Yes, Katana, it means a powerful sword and Kazane means the swift wind. Do you, do you like it?" Erza asked, uncertainty.

I looked at her and grinned brightly. It was a shock for her to see it.

"I love it, thank you!"

And I did, to be given a name was to be given an identity, which something I didn't have.

Erza smiled slightly, before standing up and extending her hand towards me. She then wrapped my wounds and laid me down on a bed. As the soft sheets wrapped around me, I yawned and closed my eyes. I had already been exhausted by today's' happenings, so it wasn't surprised when I fell asleep immediately. The last thing I heard was humming a soft song and stroking feeling on my head.

Huh. Maybe Scarlet wasn't such a bad color.