The chill from outside had been keeping Jewel inside all day. She stared out as the first snowflakes of winter began to fall. The cold had come late this year, being the middle of November already. A feeling of melancholy swept over Jewel as she remembered how she and Juvia used to make snow-women and snow forts around this time of year when they were younger, so many years ago. She smiled sadly and took a sip of her hot chocolate.

It had been almost two years since Juvia left home to join a wizard guild. Her parents immediately accepted, understanding her need to improve herself and become more independent. She was turning into an adult after all. Jewel was happy that her sister was going out to find her place in the world, but that didn't stop her from missing her terribly.

It hurt.

Sighing, Jewel began to get ready for bed when a genius thought popped into her head. She could go visit Juvia! What was the name of the guild she joined again? Ghost Ruler? Ghoul Leader? No, thats not it...P-...Ph-...Phantom? King? Phantom King? NO, wait! Phantom Lord! That was it! She could go to her guild and visit her. Surely someone there would know her, or at the very least know where she would be, right?

The next problem was convincing her parents to let her go. While they let Juvia leave home, and at the same age Jewel is now no less, her parents were much more protective of her, being the younger sibling and all. Plus, Jewel was known for being a more dependent person, and was not all that fond of going places by herself. And her parents were very aware of this fact.

'But they have to let me go!' Jewel reasoned in her head. 'I'm sure they can understand where I'm coming from, they miss her just as much as I do. Probably more! I've got to do this.

In the end Jewel's parents agreed, albeit reluctantly. She guilt tripped them by expressing how it was almost her birthday and she didn't want to have to spend another year without seeing her sister. Getting to Oak Town, where the Phantom Lord guild was located, would take a couple days so she set out immediately. Jewel promised to be home in a few months, kissed and hugged them both goodbye and left.

Jewel hummed as she walked, rubbing her hands together and shivering slightly in the cold as she got off the train. She had finally arrived in Oak Town, an older-looking place with stone buildings with tall towers. The vastness of it surprised Jewel, a small-town girl who had never left home before. Jewel imagined Juvia walking down these streets and feeling the same sense of awe that she felt in that moment.

Since the young water Mage had no idea where the guild hall was or what it looked like, she began to ask around by walking up to the first person she saw, a middle aged woman with long dark brown hair and a kind face.

"Excuse me, ma'am. I was wondering if you could tell me where I could find the Phantom Lord guild hall. I just got into town and don't know my way around."

The womans face twisted in confusion, giving Jewel a strange look.

"I don't know why you'd want to visit that dump, the only people who associate with that place are hooligans and ruffians, but to each her own I guess. And you seem like a nice girl so I'll tell you." She sighed. "From here keep heading uptown. When you pass the clock tower then you're close. Can't miss it, it's a mess and its huge."

"Oh, um, thank you..."

Jewel walked away, following the path the woman had showed to her.

'That was weird. Does Phantom Lord have a bad rep around here or something? That woman sure didn't sound very fond of them. But they can't be all that bad if Juvia decided to join them...right?'

Now Jewel was nervous, the worst case scenarios immediately filling her head.

'What if she got into trouble with them and she's working off a debt, or they made her their slave, or worse, she was kidnapped. Juvia! Please be ok!'

Jewel started to walk faster as her nerves grew until she was full or running. She made it to the top of the hill-like town, out of breath and sweaty. Her fatigue occupied her for only a short time before she looked up and noticed to guild hall. Or what was left of it.

Most of the rubble was still lying around in one huge mess, and Jewel was confused. What the hell happened to the guild hall? And if it's been destroyed, the where's Juvia?!

Jewel moaned in frustration and sat down on a nearby bench, trying to decide what to do. She needed answers, but had no idea who could give the ones she was looking for.

'Well, they probably won't know where Juvia is, but the townspeople would be a good way to find out what exactly went down here. Maybe I could find that lady from before and ask her.'

But that didn't get her very far.

"Oh you know, another guild rivalry. Seems they pissed someone off big time."

"There was a big explosion that shook the whole town."

"Didn't you hear about it from the news? Wow you must really live under a rock haha'

They spoke to her as if she already knew what had happened, mentioning names and people whose faces drew a blank in her mind.

Finally an old man saw the frustration on her face and took pity on her, explaining the huge battle Phantom Lord had against Fairy Tail.

"What's Fairy Tail? Is that another magical guild?"

"Yes. Apparently Phantom did a pretty good number on a few of there members, putting them in the hospital for quite some time. And their guild hall was destroyed, although not as badly as they destroyed Phantom afterwords."

"Why would they attack the other guilds members?"

"Who knows. Probably had something to do with an old rivalry between the guilds. But if you ask me, those troublemakers had what was coming to them. They cause trouble wherever they go, especially here in town. The day those Fairies came to town was the day we could all start living peacefully again."

Jewel stared at the man open-mouthed. How could he say such things about her sisters guild? Were they all really as horrible as he made them out to be? Oh, what has Juvia gotten herself into?!

Apparently Jewel had been staring for quite some time, because the old man waved a hand in front her her face with a concerned look. She blinked as if coming out of a trance.

"Al you all right dear? You don't look so good."

Jewel sighed.

"It's just...if the guild hall was destroyed, where are all its members?"

"It was disbanded some time ago. I'd assume all the members left to join other guilds, cause trouble somewhere else. Why, are you looking for someone?"

"...yes. But now I have no idea how to find her."

The old man gave her a serene smile. "Then if I were you, I'd go ask those Fairy Tail fellows. They might have some idea where the person your looking for has gone."

"Are you sure that's such a good idea?" She inquired nervously. "aren't they swore enemies and all..."

"Well yes, but it's not like you really have any other options, do you?"

"That's true. Well I guess I've got a plan now. Thank you so much for all your help old man, I really appreciate it."

"It's not a problem at all young lady. Good luck and be car- HEY, WAIT. WHO ARE YOU CALLING OLD MAN?!"

Jewel giggled and waved back at him as she left the square, intent on finding Fairy Tail, and her sister. The old man had told her to take the train to Hargeon and that it was a straight shot south to Magnolia, the city where Fairy Tail resided, about a days walk.

She sat down on the soft seat of the train and stared out the window as the people and town disappeared, making room for rolling hills and meadows.

'I hope these people in Fairy Tail can help me find my sister. This trip is becoming more troublesome than I first expected.'

Little did Jewel know just how unexpected her life was about to get come the next couple days...