To my other story fans. I'm sorry. My muse if a fickle b***h. I've tried working on my other stories, but this one is persistent. Updates may be fast at first, but once work gets going again for me it will be sporadic. Between working full time and going to school part time I'll probably use a good portion of free time on studying. I'll work on this as much as I can, but I make no promises to follow a pattern.

The obligatory disclaimer. I don't own Fairy Tail or any of the characters. I don't own the Pradesh Family characters or the idea of Bosco or White Sea, those are Desna's brilliant brain children. I do, however, own Mia and Thoma. Special thanks to Desna for allowing people to use her characters and for helping me come up with a title for this story.

Seeking Sunrise

Prologue: Starting Fresh

Soft moonlight filtered through the windows and gave off a silver illumination in the halls. A feminine figure scurried from shadow to shadow with a small satchel thrown over her shoulder. The young woman forced herself to breathe as quietly as she could. She had waited for a long time for this opportunity, the last thing she wanted to do was ruin it by making careless noises.

In the center of the hallway were two doors facing opposite of one another. The door to her left had a soft light filtering from the crack below. The door on her right was dark. As silently as possible, the young woman opened the darkened door and slipped inside. Just as quietly she shut it to filter out any noises she would make. The room gave a mystical glow with the moonlight shining through the windows and double doors that led to the balcony. Using that as her guide and not risk any other lighting, the figure dodged furniture and large instruments spread throughout the music room. After opening the doors leading to the balcony a light breeze flowed through and lifted some of the woman's fine golden hair from the confides of her cloak. Moving as quickly as she could while still being quiet the figure started pulling the drapes and curtains from the windows. Using the cords that tied them shut first, she knotted them together to form a type of rope.

Tying the newly formed rope to the rail of the balcony she threw the loose end over the side. Watching it stop, the young woman figured she still had about a five-foot fall from the end. Heading back in, she took the strewn drapes and bundled them together. Without any thought to how they would end up she threw them over the balcony, just below the make shift rope. They landed in a heap below the balcony.

After making sure her satchel was secure, she carefully eased herself up and over the rail of the balcony as she kept a tight grip on the rope. She slowly edged her way down until her feet reached the end. Taking a deep and steadying breath, the woman let go while forcing herself to remain quiet. Despite her best efforts she still let out a huff of air and the fluttering of the ruined drapes as she landed still made some noise.

The landing caused the hood to fall off the figures head. A blonde haired, brown eyed seventeen-year-old girl emerged from the top of the pile. She quickly glanced around her to ensure that her escape still went unnoticed. She glanced up to the backside of the mansion she was now facing. She let out a small sigh of relief that none of the lights had been turned on. Standing, she adjusted the satchel and headed to the garden the balcony had overlooked. She knew that if she went around and tried to escape through the front gate her chances of being caught would go up. Past the garden the young woman looked back to the Konzern just before entering the forest. "Bye Mom," she whispered. "I'll write to you every day." Without another word she disappeared into the trees.

~ The smell of sterile equipment was the first thing that met the senses. A young woman with curly, light brown hair groggily opened her blue eyes. She looked down to see that her arms were covered in bandages with spots of blood going down the length of each randomly. A noise drew her attention to the door. A nurse walked into the room. "It's good to see you're awake," she said. "How are you feeling?"

The patient tried to speak, but found that her throat was in far too much pain. "I'm terribly sorry," the nurse stated in panic. "I completely forgot about your throat injury. It's such a normal question for me to ask newly wakened patients." The nurse gently lowered the collar of the hospital gown. "It's only natural for a sore throat after the stress you've been through." The young woman could only look at her in confusion. "The doctor will be in to discuss with you what happened. For now, just know that you're safe and on the mend."

No sooner had the nurse spoke than a man in a lab coat entered. The nurse gave a reassuring smile and left. The doctor checked the patient's vitals before turning his attention to the person in the bed. "Miss Barden," he began. "You're very lucky that your magic manifested when it did. The farm equipment would have done even more damage to your arms, if not remove them all together. As for the damage to your throat…." The doctor paused and let out a disappointed sigh. "The damage to your throat is more complicated. You most likely don't remember due to the trauma to your arms. Unfortunately there's no easy was to say this. Your father is in custody for attacking you. I had to go to your home to talk with your mother about your care. I'm sorry to inform you that because you've developed magic they want nothing to do with you. It was your father that caused the damage to your throat. You're alive right now because a passing neighbor heard screams and had come to see if they could help. He was the one that brought you in after defending you from your father."

The girl broke down into silent tears. Magic had never run in the family. They had planned for her to marry and work the farm or her husband's farm. Her magic, which she still didn't know what it was, changed everything. As she continued to cry a silvery white dome covered her and the bed. Magic symbols spread across the dome. Realizing her magic was manifesting in an effort to protect her feelings the doctor quietly left the room.

It took a while for the girl to calm down, but when she finally looked up she noticed the dome that surrounded her. She blinked at it in confusion then looked down at her own hands. In each hand was a small circle the same color as the dome with matching magic symbols. Taking a shuddering breath to calm her nerves the dome slowly dissolved and the girl was left alone again. She continued to stare at her hands, trying to get the dome to come back without success. "You'll need a teacher." The new voice startled the girl to look towards the door. She recognized the man as their neighbor, Nico Rolf.

He was getting up in his years. His wife passed away the year prior and all his children moved away, wanting to get away from the small town. He shuffled his way into the room and sat in the visitor chair heavily. "There hasn't been a mage born in this town for at least three generations," he started conversationally. "Even so, that mage hadn't been related to your family. So, it's more than a surprise that you should be one. I'm not going to apologize on your family's behalf. What they did and are doing to you is inexcusable. Just because you have magic is no reason to shun you, let alone attack. I only managed to get you away from your father before more damage could be done because I surprised him. The way your mother just stood there, I knew I couldn't rely on her. I rushed you to the clinic as fast as I could. There's no magical healer here though. Your arms will take time to heal. As soon as you were in their care I called the rune knights. Crimes against mages are the council's jurisdiction. I imagine your father will be facing serious jail time.

"Your mum, I can't say I have many kind words for her anymore. Just know that when they release you, you have a place to stay in my house. It's awfully big for just one man to take care of by himself. You help around the house while I tend to the fields and I'll make sure to find a way to get you the instruction you need to control your magic. I've already asked the rune knights when they were here if they knew someone that could help. From the description I gave them, they said it sounds like you have barrier magic. I guess they're impressed since barrier magic is really useful and those that are born with it tend to be stronger than those that learn to use it."

Nico went silent as he ran out of things to say. After a few minutes he brought up the hard subject. "Mia, your pop will be going to trial for what he did to you. They're going to want you to testify, or at least tell them what you know." Mia's face became stricken at the news. "I'm going to help you as much as I can," Nico assured. "But since I'm not next of kin and you're of legal age I can't really stop them from calling on you to testify. As it is, they didn't want me offering you a place to stay until I told them that you would be working in the house for room and board. That would be making me your landlord. Once you've been taught how to control your magic you should find a guild to join or something. This town hasn't had many interactions with magic. It's kind of stuck in the old traditions where magic was seen as an evil thing. It won't be safe for you here for long." Mia nodded her head in understanding. A plan was beginning to form in her head on how to handle the situation.

~ Bodies were strewn across the ground, groaning in pain of one form or another. A lithe young man in his late teens or early twenties stood over them. He had long coffee brown hair tied at the base of his neck and amber eyes. "Get out of here," he hissed. "The next time I see one of you scum I won't be so nice."

One of the injured got on his knees, holding his stomach in pain. "He calls this nice?" he grumbled. Without warning the man was suddenly in front of him. "I-I mean… We're leaving.. right now." As fast as he could, while still holding his stomach, he stood. He grabbed the arm of the guy closest to him and tried to pull him to his feet. After a few minutes the group of seven stumbled out of the clearing.

Once they were gone several small children rushed out of hiding and circled the now calm man. "That was so cool big brother," a small boy said. "Can you teach me to do that?"

The man let out a laugh and picked the boy up along with the smallest girl. "No can-do Jonah," the man said. "I don't even know how I got this magic. I've had to be really careful not to hurt the house."

"But brother Thoma," the small girl said shyly. "Teacher says that almost everyone can learn magic."

"She's kind of right," Thoma agreed. "But she's also wrong. She said 'almost' everyone, which also means 'not everyone'. Some people just aren't able to use magic. She also said that those that do learn don't learn the same type. If you did learn magic it probably won't be wind magic like me." He bounced the girl in his arm a bit as they walked from the clearing. "I bit little Sarah here would learn bubble magic if she could."

"Bubbles!" Sarah let out a giggle.

"There's no such thing as bubble magic," Jonah protested. Sarah instantly deflated and wore a pout.

"Don't be mean," Thoma chastised. "We all need dreams to get us through."

"What's your dream brother Thoma," Sarah sniffled.

"It's to take care of all of you."

"That's not a very good dream," one of the older boys said. All eyes turned to him, some in confusion and others anger. "You are way past the age to be staying with us in the orphanage. I know that you've been doing work for Teacher, but you can't stay with us forever. I'm old enough to take on the jobs you did and we all know it. You need to get out and see what the world has to offer besides this crappy town."

"Coban, it's not that easy," Thoma tried to reason. "Those punks will probably be back the next time you're sent to the market. They know what days Teacher sends you. If I'm not around…"

"I can defend myself," Coban argued. "You just never give me the chance. I'm second oldest. I can protect everyone too, I just need the chance."

"That's a dangerous line of thought," Thoma stated. "If you go looking for trouble it won't be you protecting everyone, it'll be you putting them in harms way." The group fell into silence as they walked. It didn't take long for them to find a two-story home in the woods that looked like it had seen better days. Out front an aging woman was pacing back and forth. When she saw the group she rushed forward.

"Thoma you have to hurry," she greeted.

"What's the matter Teacher?" he asked. He gently lowered the two that he had carried.

"The rune knights are looking for you."

"Why?"

"There have been reports that a mage in the woods has been randomly attacking the boys of the village while they were gathering wood for their parents."

"That's ridiculous!" Coban yelled. "They weren't gathering wood, they were waiting to steal the money you give us for the market."

"It's our word against theirs," Teacher sighed. "No one in the village is going to believe a group of orphans over their own children. As such, it's safer for Thoma to leave town."

"I don't want big brother to go," Sarah wailed.

"Would you rather he be in jail?" Jonah snapped.

"Jonah," Thoma started.

"He's right though," Coban interrupted. "Look, brother, we'll be fine. We'll change the days that we go to the market, I'll even go alone if it'll help avoid those liars. I can take the long way around if it's necessary. I can do the yard work and maintenance of the house, I've been watching you. Besides, I'm sure there are a lot more people out there then us that needs protection from bullies."

The teacher rushed the other children inside. From the porch she picked up a satchel she had waiting. "I've put everything you need in here," she said. "There's a change of clothes, bread and cheese for food and as much jewel as I can spare."

"Teacher…" Thoma was at a loss for words.

"Listen to me Thoma," she said. "You've protected all the children that have come and gone from my care since you could walk. I don't know much about your lineage, you know that, so I don't know where your magic comes from. But the one thing that I never told you was that while I didn't know who your mother was I knew 'what' she was. The healer that brought you here was the one that tended to your birth. You mother was a slave, you were born a slave. If not for the healer, you would either be a slave now or dead. It was through sheer luck he could smuggle you out. He told me the woman birthed twins that night."

"Twins?" Thoma sucked in a breath.

"Let me finish," the teacher shushed him. "The first twin was stillborn, never managed to take a living breath. You, though, you were healthy. Thankfully you were also calm and quiet for the first precious moments. The healer told the owner the 'only' child born didn't make it. He then rushed you from that place and got you out of the country. Traveling into this country for a week he brought you to me. He didn't want to leave you on a border town. The likelihood of it being home to slave traders too high."

"The only country that we're a weak away from is… Bosco has laws against slavery."

The teacher shook her head. "I moved from that first house for extra protection. You were born in Pergrande. They have strange politics over there so I can't be a hundred percent certain you would have been a slave, born to a merchant, a noble, the king or a gladiator. Though none of them I would wish on my worst enemy."

"I could never imagine treating someone as kind as you the way they treat women in that country," Thoma spat. "Do you know who the healer was. Even if I can't thank him directly, I would still like to know so that I may honor his actions in what I do."

"He kept his name from me. Told me that it was for the best."

"Then he is my nameless guardian," Thoma accepted. He sighed and took the sacthel that was held out to him. "You will all be careful?"

"We will survive," Teacher nodded. "You know that Sarah is the last child I agreed to take in. I'm getting far too old to care for young ones anymore. With you leaving, we'll have a bit of slack to pick up, but I'm sure Coban is up to the challenge. Just make sure you stay away from town. They don't have a good description of you, but it's better to be safe than sorry."

Thoma leaned forward and hugged the elderly woman. "Thank you, teacher," he spoke quietly. "I can never forget the kindness you've shown and taught me."

"Scram you," she tapped his shoulder. "Before you make an old woman cry." Thoma let out a chuckle. With a small gush of wind, he was gone.