Author's Notes: Just a idea that came to me. Dunno. It is fun to play with. I do so love Steampunk Fantasy...especially when paired with magic. If it's liked enough I might make it into a short series. It's not meant to be terribly long. But it's a fun world, I think.

Edit: It is going to be a short series. This one will not be as long as my others...well *I* don't plan on that... *glares at the characters*


Absolute Soul

Levy stumbled along the well worn path carrying her basket. She was aware that she would soon no longer be alone in her journey back towards their prison. She shifted the bundle carefully. She's sure that Lilica would raise hell if any of the pastries she ordered where damaged. She looked about at everyone moving along their lives in faint envy. At one time she was one of those people. Free..simply thinking about what she would have for lunch later or even dinner. Now...now she was simply one of the 'invisibles.' Simply another servant sent out to do her mistress's bidding another servant that will simply 'dissapear' when her chore was done. She stopped for a rest for a moment breathing a sigh of relief. The 'chains' ease the closer she is to the estate. The tug on her soul not wearing on her as much. Stepping out of the gentle flow of traffic she finds a tree to sit under. She could feel nature hum all about her and smiles at the lovely trickle of power she could feel.

"Levy?" looking up the petite girl smiles at her co-worker and friend. She was carrying a large bundle that more than likely was yet another dress. "Lucy. You made it back in record time."

"I want to do what you do. Even if it's only just a little time. A rest without tugging and soak up some of the energy about. Remember what it was like to be able to 'see' like we used to..."

The busty blonde sits down next to her and smiles. Both of their brown dresses, none the worst for wear by being in the grass, spread about them and aided in them blending in with nature. Levy pulled out three little glass carafes of milk, bread, cheese and salted ham. "Where did you get this!? Is that milk? Ooh it's been so long!"

"I thought we could all share it. Better than the crap we get at home." The girls would often scavenge for both food of the body and mind finding the best they could transport back to their leaky shack to attempt to fix. Usually it wasn't much but since the Lady Lilica had some very expensive tastes. What they could scavenge where actually very good quality. She had absolutely no taste in books (to read them or to choose them) so the relocating of the books was no issue really at all. She only maintained the library as a show piece for when she brings friends over.

"But won't she count the money when we get back?"

"Yes but she won't count the money I find under dressers and in the chair cushions." There is laughter from beside them as their third member arrived. Sporting a large wrapped box that no doubt contained the Mistresses new hat, as well as various jugs of alcohol for her dinner party this evening.

"You're slick. Just like me" she winks pointing to another hidden bottle on her own person.

"Cana...come on lets sit and eat and enjoy this for now." They all knew that soon the time would be up and the 'chains' would reel them in. They enjoyed being outside and eating decent food for a change. The air was clean and the sun happily bathed their Absolute Souls in a comforting heat as the girls allowed them to hover above them. Levy pulled out a very small book and softly reads a loud the book on advance magical concepts to her listening companions. They couldn't use them (yet, they hoped,) but it never hurt to know. They had discovered that they where growing stronger each day despite the bindings. Each day was looking just a bit brighter and though they did not know what the future would bring they hoped that it would be one where freedom wasn't far from their grasp.


Wendy hurried down the street eagerly, she was going to surprise her brother and his father at work! She had her basket and the drinks would still be hot due to the spell she had placed on the thermos. She stops in shock as she catches sight of something that made her heart lurch. She could almost feel he faint echos of pain. There, panting for breath was a cat off to the side of the road. He looked as if he had been hit by a passing carriage. Maybe even one of those new motorized ones due to the gash on his head. Thinking of Happy and Carla at home and imagining one of them in such a state...

Quickly putting down the basket to the side of the road she knelt down with the intent to try and heal the rapidly weakening life. Her hands begin to glow over the prone body and she is so focused on the task at hand that she doesn't hear a voice shouting at her to move. She was almost done when a body slams into her knocking her over and shielding her with their body just as she feels the weight of a entrapment spell attempt to snap it's jaws around her. It was a suffocating feeling as it it came any closer it would worm its way into her very soul and steal things from her that where the very essence of who she was. The only thing holding it off was the soul form rising from the back of the person shielding her.

"Oi! I told you to move! Ya need...ugh to listen!"

"S-sorry!" Wendy manages weakly looking up in surprise at the young boy who is attempting to prevent her capture. He was no older than she and it seemed that he was already a captive. His ifrit Absolute was pushing back against the wall of spells she could just barely see beyond his shoulder attempting to fall on her. His chained soul arms straining with the effort his hindered magic doing the best it could. Instinctively Wendy reached out in an attempt to help. Dipping down into the well of power as she had been instructed since she was a child. Just as she was about to release her own magic the boy slams a hand next to her head startling her. "DON'T do it! It...will... only try to move... to your soul form...if it gets even a taste of your magic again I won't be able to hold it off...I would tell you to run but...it's already going to try and follow you. I...dunno how to dispel it..."

"Kid!" Wendy saw the navy blue, and intense eyed haired boy sigh in relief as he turned to his side to look.

"Nee-sans! Help!"Wendy watched in surprise as a wavy brown haired maid, a wavy blue haired maid and a blonde maid all circled around them and *pushed* at the wall. Her surprise and awe grew as she witnessed a owl winged woman with bird feet, a human headed, winged lioness and a multi-winged angel manifest and proceed to pull the spell apart in record time. They would've been beautiful if not for the strange tar coating their heads and shoulders and the chains tied to their wings, arms and back. Despite it all they where fighting for her with everything in them. She could feel that their magic was just as hindered as his but the progress they made was sure and steady. What they where doing under such a handicap would probably exhaust many of the mages she knew but some how these girls where not showing any signs of fatigue. Only concentration marred their pretty features and a quiet strength in their brown eyes. Suddenly there was a *pop* as she could feel the trap collapse in on its self before dissipating. The boy who was over her seemed to take a very deep breath before rolling off of her and falling in the grass panting. The cat that had lured her over was still laying there, sleeping off the effects of her healing.

"Hey, are you two alright?" The blonde asks her hand gently touching each of their heads. Wendy watches in awe as the multi-winged angel used one set to cover it's own head at all times as if shielding itself from something.

"Yeah...now that you came. I don't know how much longer I could've lasted."

"You did well, Ro." She smiles. "Good thing we followed C-C's gut to head back early." The long brown haired maid nods. "Figured it had something to do with one of these traps." The smaller blue haired girl nods as she stands. "Yes...if she had managed to capture another one...especially one with power like her..." the young girl watched in curiosity as all of her saviors suddenly got quiet and uneasy. They knew she was a mage? How? She didn't have her soul form out. But then Ro had mentioned something about if the trap detected her power. The ensuing silence reminded her of her manners and shot her to her feet.

"AH! Thank you very much!" She clutched at the blue and white plaid walking dress she was wearing nervously and bowed the best she could in stays She so wished she didn't dress so nicely now. Would they think she rude? Ill mannered?

"You are welcome. It makes us happy to have kept you safe...trust us you don't want..." the Dark haired woman who was speaking, "Al" she thinks the blonde called her, suddenly stopped short and was nearly drug backwards, almost as if something invisible had yanked her. Simultaneously all the others had similar jerks. All looked suddenly tense and a irritated. They stood and suddenly looked to be struggling against some sort of pull as they bent to pick up the packages they had dropped. Managing to only spare her a glance and a smile all four started to walk up a path she only just noticed to her right. THey where moving abnormally fast for the pace of their legs. "Just be careful around here, kid, we might not be around to help you next time." Ro grumbles to her cheeks red. The girls nod gently smiles pasted on their pale faces. Wendy delved deep within her magic and opened her eyes. She paled herself as she saw the soul forms writhing in pain as the chains pulled tightly dragging them up the path and deeper into the trees the black gunk seeming to attempt to grow, now all the women's Astral forms where protecting their heads with their wings. For some reason it made her stomach churn to watch.

"Wait! How can I find you to thank you!? What are your names?"

"Don't worry about it!" The blonde called back her voice light even if brown eyes where tense. "Like we said: We're happy to help!" Wendy looked about the road, there where several people about, some even looked after her in confusion. Her mind quickly began to process what was happening. The road she was on was fairly busy. Oddly no one had come to them before. Turning back to speak at the retreating figures she noted they where gone. Walking back to her basket she picks it up before kneeling down and lifting the still resting cat. He was a bit dirty but seemed to be alright now. Who would use a wounded animal as bait? Possibly the same people who would do such things to people...but she wasn't sure *what* was done to them. Just that they had kept it from happening to her. Wendy was well aware that she was very gifted for her age, even boasting a high magical power that was rare. But she was just as aware that she still lacked much of the training that the rest of her family. She carefully cradled the creature close as she trotted towards a large red brick building adored with many columns and arches over the windows. There where cat eye windows hidden towards the top and the entrance was a grand example of borrowed ideas from both ancient Fiore and present times. The columns here where huge and their styling much more ornate than those bracketing all the windows. And the Arch was much more ornate in it's use of it's key-stone. It was easily one of the largest in the city but then...it needed a lot of space.

The Department of Magical Mysteries and Mechanical Marvels, or the Four "M" department as they liked to call it, was a government sanctioned agency made to keep up with not only magic and it's growth as a whole but also technology and try it's best to find out the best ways they can work in harmony and enhance the other. This concept was one of the reasons Fiore was the center of the civilized world. Crocus was the political capital of Fiore but Magnolia was by and far the magical capital having the Four-M's based here.

Wendy trotted into the front door and smiled up at the security guards standing in the little foyer.

"Afternoon, young Miss. Here to see your Dad again are you?"

Nodding happily she grins happily holding out her basket with one arm for the one on her right to glance through. He was always the more quiet of the two but his smile was kind. "I brought him and Nii-san lunch!" The older man chuckles happily from her left as he presses a button. Wendy feels the faint prickle of magic wash over her as the lacrimina hidden below the floor and in the ceiling activate and scan her and her items. It came as no surprise that such large lacramina where in use here. Lacramina, which was used in everything from nurseries to cannons today, where invented by the 4M's, from just such a union of machine and magic.

"You're free to go Miss." She could hear the clanking of gears and chains begin to move as the doorway before he slowly began to swing open.

"Thank you sir's!" she nodded to him happily before trotting through.

Her heels make a smart tapping sound across the wood floor. The first floor was a exhibit of various marvels from the Department. Many classes of young students, mage and tinkerer alike, wandered among them all staring and taking notes. Wendy could only imagine what it must be like for them She only barely remembered her first time visiting them. She believes she had only just learned to walk. For a moment she considered the marble stairs rising before her. Her mother would argue that her trip to the third floor would do her good in the long run stamina wise, Wendy's arms said the lift in the corner was a far better option. Stepping inside the cage she carefully maneuvered her burdens and slid the handle to the number "3." She felt the Lacrimina's on the container flicker into existence and their gentle but firm manipulation of gravity via magic creating a smooth even ride. The cat in her arms stirred and she carefully scanned him for distress or pain. Finding none she sighed in relief.

After stepping out of the lift she stepped down the hall, bypassing all the offices knowing that her father and brother rarely stayed in them. Though her father had technically retired from field work, he would put his son through his paces to make sure he would live to 'retire' as well. Battle mages where a tough sort of group, however any slip ups tended to make them a short lived lot. Dragons where even better than your average battle mage. And stronger. But Her father never took chances especially with the lives under his protection. Already she had learned a few attack spells of her own, even if she was not going to be a Debello Draco.

Stopping at the dojo she eased inside and smiled. Apparently they where teaching a class to aspiring Draco mages and doing a demonstration. In such cases there where only a few people her father trusted to spar with. In lue of the elders like himself, he'd only allow Natsu, confident that his son could handle whatever he threw at him. And that if he couldn't it would be a learning experience for the boy. Being that he was one of the youngest to ever be honored with the full title of "Debello Draco" he had quite a bit to live up to. Sitting her self down a ways away she subtlety changed the flows of air about her to insure that her skirts don't catch. The Dojo was a alight with flames as they both, punched, kicked, and grappled their way about the dojo. She could tell the new recruits from those more seasoned about her. She giggled. No doubt their soul forms where drakes and they worked in the hopes that they could 'evolve' into Dragons.

The sound of a bell broke the two men apart and all could see the identical smirks adorning the father and son's face.

Igneel turns around. "And that ladies is why making sure you control your own power is important! Just think if we didn't know how to keep OURSELVES from catching. Your own magic CAN hurt you. Once it is compressed into a fighting format and the intent to harm is instilled into the magic the kick back alone could put yourself out of commission. Do NOT make that mistake." The elder Dragneel claps his hands and narrows his jade colored eyes at them. Many gulp as the scars over his right eye and the intersecting two on his cheek serve to make his smile look more predatorial than encouraging. "That's all for today, girls. Go home, practice and tomorrow I want to see how well you can stand up to me." The nearly a dozen students all groan but nod and stand up to leave. Several catch sight of her and start but nod their heads in respect. Once the last leaves Natsu's rubbing him face with a towel then up to his rosy locks and looks at his dad. "You know you only served to make them nervous."

"They will be a lot more than that when they make it to battle." The elder sniffs as he pulls off his gi. Wendy always winced when she got to witness all the scars adorning her father's body. She couldn't imagine how her mother dealt with it... But then she'd been aware and around when Natsu earned his. Now that she thought about it they startlingly resembled her father's in placement, though Natsu only had one on his neck and none on his face...yet.

"True."

Wendy smiles and stands. "Dad, Natsu!" she waves to them from the side. Where she had stood was a the location where one removed their shoes before officially entering the area. "I brought lunch!" she holds up the basket earning twin looks of awe. "That's my girl!"

"Alright, Wendy!"

They sat in Igneels office at ate. The men had changed back into their official uniforms. Black with gold trim long jackets and white trousers. Natsu favored the long sleeved look and the matching gold buckles in his upper arms emphasized his biceps. A white scarf, that was once Igneel's good luck charm, and a bright red sash about his waist denoting his station as a fire mage. His father had more of a traditional take as his sleeves where simple, and his shirt. His blacks now white and his sash the same red color sporting gold fringe. The Dragneels had a long line of military history behind them and long lives as well.

"Wendy? Where did you get the cat?"

"Princess, we don't need another." Igneel admonishes gently his eyes glancing over to the cat resting gently on a purloined pillow.

"I know that." she pouts slightly as she pours them tea. "But it's more than that. Something happened on the way here..." Both men lean forward staring intently at her.

"What happened!?"

"Who do I have to kill!?" they say simultaneously.

"No...that's not it." she sighs softly. "Not it at all." She looks seriously up at them. "I kind of...sort of... nearly got caught in a slavers trap." she finished the last in a rush. "The kitty was used as bait...and I couldn't leave the poor dear." she hurries on. Both the men of her life look only mildly assuaged. But their eyes said that this wasn't over. Igneel sat back looking quietly at his daughter. "So? How did you get out of it?"

"Ah...I didn't. I had help. This boy...called "Ro" helped keep it off of me until these three maids came and pulled the spell apart. I'd never seen Absolute Soul forms like theirs before...but they where bound with chains and had black gunk on them. But Even with that they where amazing!" she looks off sparkly eyed clutching her cheeks and sighing happily, completely missing the suddenly intense stare of her father. "Really? How did they look?"

"One was a Angel with three pairs of wings! Another was a Sphinx, ohhh it looked so regal and wise! The other was a bird woman but her wings looked like owl wings she had bird feet but it was beautiful! Ro's was a...you taught me this one...a I-Ifrit. It's from the fire family." Igneel nods his assent.

Natsu blinks at his sister and smiles, though something about what she said felt wrong... glancing at his father and his intent expression, it seems he was right. But he would let his old man handle this...subtley was not his strong suit.

"Honey, You said this boys's name was Ro? Did anything else stand out to you?"

"Ummm he looked tired...so did the nice ladies..no one seemed to notice us on the side of the road...and it was busy too..." she looks a bit upset. Wendy was a fierce but gentle soul and the idea that no one would stop to check on three women and two young people sitting on the side of the road, hurt. Which in Magnolia was a bit odd, even in the rougher sections...

"I see...and you said you saw a Sphinx, a six winged angel and a beautiful bird woman as Soul Forms, but they where all chained and covered in something?"

Wendy nods. "Shame, they where pretty, too."

"Ah I see. And you said the cat was the 'bait?"

She nods. "Uh-huh. He's still resting but I think I healed him completely."

She stands up to go examine her patient. Igneel taps the back of Natsu's hand, uses his other hand to tap his own nose before looking at Wendy. The younger man nodded in understanding and agreement. Wendy had brought with her unique smells not common to the walk from the Dragneel estate to the 4M. One of which was coal, the other being most notably a very expensive alcohol. One that could not possibly be within a maid's salary...unless she where buying it for their employer.

*Or, rather in this case slaver. If what Wendy said was true, someone is using forbidden magic and actively attempting to ensnare more people. And IF those Soul Forms are right...I need to speak with Grandeeny...she knows the Disir far better than I do.*


Karen looked at her reflection and fluffed her fur trimmed bodice once more. She had all the who's who invited for tonight. She'd checked her list twice to make sure she didn't forget anyone. She heard the door downstairs open and close as her servants made their way back inside with the purchases. She expected the food delivery any moment now. Standing up she flounces downstairs and smile at the girls.

"Did you get everything I asked for?"

"Yes. Lady Lillica" The three said in unison through long suffering expressions. Karen couldn't be happier. Even after her father's untimely death two years ago, he was kind enough to leave her servants. "Wonderful. Now, I could use some tea. Lu-Lu, be a dear and do that for me. I also want some scones so make some fresh ones. I am feeling in a lavender mood...well? Move! Sometime today!"

The blonde simply begins to walk off. "As you wish...madame." Brown eyes stare stonily straight ahead, hate filling them for a moment.

"Lee-Lee, Make sure my parlour is perfect! I can't have my guests questioning the way I run this I even find a speck of dust I will take it out of your hide." A curly blue head bowed and simply walked away. Karen clinched her fist and the small woman gasped in pain.

"You forgot something..."

"Right away...M'Lady."

"Better." She turns to the eldest woman and smiles ever so sweetly at her. "C-C, You brought the alcohol...he did not try to rip me off did he?"

"No ma'am. Everything is per your agreement."

"Excellent. YOU I want to set up the card table, make sure all pieces are there and that all the...tricks installed work as well, clear? After that I want you to set up the bar and the buffet..make sure the others stay on task and pull out all the parlour games! Oh tonight is going to be grand! And I'd better not catch any of you bitches sleeping, we are going to probably be up well into the night. I have hired hands coming in to look good as our servers, so you make sure you three scrubs stay out of sight! Understand?"

"Perfectly." *Not like we want to go to your sorry excuse for a soiree anyway...*

"Good. Now be a good girl and get to work."


Lisanna slipped away from the party. Mira was always better at smoozing with bitches than she was. Walking along the hall she searched for a viable place to hide. Checking this door and that she found many rooms, two more parlours one musically orientated the other seemed to be dedicated to the magical lectures or forums that had come in to Vouge about ten years back. She had ended up wandering after one of the smartly dressed servants had pointed her in the wrong direction for the water closet. She had eventually found one but now, not wanting to return to such foolishness (and not being very good at maintaining the socially acceptable smile the entire time) had continued to wander. Stopping at each door out of curiosity. It wasn't polite and frankly she's sure to hear it from her sister before they take their leave, but there wasn't much more to do if you didn't care to get drunk on unfamiliar grounds. Aside from the gentle swish of her skirts and the light taps her shoes made on the floors she heard little else sans the faint rumble of the party. Then she heard a voice...soft and constant, if a bit tired.

"If one could be sure of one's grounding, a shunt is capable."

"But what if the shunt recipient is unwilling or too young when it was placed on them? Would that hinder it's development? Possibly even weaken it?" a second voice asks.

"It doesn't say. It appears that due to the forbidden nature of this magic no one dared to experiment with it. Or at least if they did, you won't find those books in polite society."

"Like *this* is polite society..." another voice snorts.

"Polite" doesn't mean it's a 'Good' society." Says the second voice again. Stopping before a cracked door Lisanna looked through the cracks. For a second she gasps not sure her eyes saw what she thought. Rubbing her eyes she looks again and the room is normal. But she was sure she saw...she continued to look about through her little crack. She could vaguely see a fire going, with it being early spring it would knock the chill off. She could vaguely make out dark figures sitting in the chairs surrounding it. The room itself was a library. She wasn't completely sure what they where talking about but it sounded FAR more interesting than listening to Karen coo about her life. Never being one to hesitate she pushed the door open with a smile hoping to join in.

"Hello. I couldn't help but over hear and I was wondering if I could join you girls for the evening...it sounds far more enjoyable than anything else going on here and..." her voice faded out as she noted the expressions on the girls faces. They looked pale...and almost afraid. "Uh...I didn't mean to startle you. I just got tired of the party and..kind of wandered here."

One of the women stood up and walked towards her. She was about her sisters age with brown hair bound at the nape of her neck. Intense eyes that had seen far too much study her. "Perhaps, M'Lady, however the Library is not one of the things Lady Lilica is very proud of. I do not wish you to suffer through anything simple maids such as ourself would speak on would surely bore you." Lisanna looks thoughtfully at her. Her eyes where just the least bit shifty...but not in a malicious way.

"I'll take my chances." she tots past her and into the library proper. Turning around in awe she wondered why the woman didn't take such pride in such a impressive book collection. However the place was well taken care of. But she felt that it was more than likely due the three women here than it was to Karen.

"She's missing out. This place is impressive. I bet there are books in here from every subject." she smiles. The brunette has a bit of a pinched look about her features but nods. "Just about anything." she agrees. Looking over at the other girls she smiles gently. They did not look nearly as nice as the servants working the party. Maybe they where excluded due to the state of their clothes? No...as their employer Karen would've had to outfit them... she stopped and really stared at the girls.

No...

She'd bet her left shoe that these girls where the real servants. The others didn't even know where the bathroom was and their hands seemed too smooth. But only three!? For this size place!? Swallowing nervously she smiles again, hoping to help them understand that she was not a threat.

"My name is Lisanna Strauss." she starts again. "Might I know yours?"

The girls look at each other their expressions a bit pained. The smallest stands and brown skirts swish as she moves to put the book back. "Le-Le." The curvy blonde nods. "Lu-Lu." The one still standing close to her nods. "C-C"

"Those are...unique names." she frowns. The small girl pauses in her walk back to her seat before the fire, ever so briefly before continuing. There was something that she seemed to want to say. Looking around she saw the haunted expressions on each of the girls faces."It is the names we where...given." The blonde, Lu-Lu, says finally and manages a strained smile.

"Ah well, I do truly wish to have a more quiet night, if you don't mind, I'd be happy here. I could even find a book and not bother you ladies at all."

Never mind Lisanna had heard all sorts of rumors about the magic the Lilica line used. No one could quite pin it down and frankly she was more than happy to poke around the magics section. Even if the family's magic isn't found she surely would find something much more interesting than sitting around playing poorly executed games and watching people she didn't particularly care for get smashed.

Admittedly she would possibly bet some juicy black mail for later use if she stayed, but she would've been forced into a game and drinks forced upon her either in the form of loss games penalties or simply from pushy elders. She rather thought these girls had much more sense than almost any of the party goers. They even had their own alcohol, though they weren't drinking to get drunk and...well...it smelled homemade. And sure as hell better than that expensive swill that she got from that old man in town (no doubt the old fool told her it would be a special order). But this bottle seemed un-labled.

Finally the brunette nods and nods to a seat. Le-Le holds up a small cup, somewhat battered. "Would you like some? It is not much but it is what we have. If not I can make some tea."

"Oh no, I'm sure this will be fine." Lisanna took the cup and takes a tentative sip. She starts in surprise. It...it was GOOD. Light, stringent, certainly a sipping drink. "This is...amazing!"

C-C smiles. "Lu-Lu, our resident herbalist came up with it. I helped her find a way to make it into alcohol. Tonight is our first test." The blonde blushes. "The recipe is ancient. Really Le found it and I simply tinkered with it until I felt it was right. It's supposed to be particularly good for ladies." she murmurs pulling out a note book from her apron to make notes in. Lisanna immediately decided that she rather liked these girls and the fact that Karen seemed to treat them with such disregard (judging by the quality of their clothes and shoes) only served to have her dislike the woman all the more. She happily settled back to, kicking off the shoes that had been pinching her feet all night in relief.

Lisanna was shaken awake gently. "Lis! Lis, I have been looking all over for you! It's dawn! We need to leave." Mira's somewhat panicked voice filters through her thoughts. She was resting so well...

"LISANNA!"

"What! I'm up! I'm up~!" sitting up she looks around and blinks at the bright light filtering into the library. She wasn't entirely sure when she fell asleep but her companions where gone and any sign of the alcohol was as well.

Shame...she really would've loved Mira's opinion on it. Especially with her running the family's high class tavern front for the 4M...

"I'm...alone?"

"Yes, what where you thinking staying here by yourself?! You know some of the people we where with might have...they where unscrupulous!"

"Sorry...but I wasn't alone..."

"Oh? Looks like it to me. Look we can talk later. Elfman just contacted us, he was just about to send out a search party. We need to get home before he comes here himself and causing problems." Sitting up and slipping her shoes back on Lisanna frowned in thought. She hadn't remembered falling asleep and traditionally she was typically a light sleeper, she would've awoken to them cleaning up and leaving. The fire was out and seemed to have been for quite a while, and yet she was not chilled. She wasn't sure how they pulled it off but she was impressed none the less. As she gathered her things and walked out the front door with her sister to climb into the carriage her mind wandered back to that initial flash from last night. How do women with such rare Souls settle for being servants for one such as *that.* She glances back at the front door with the expensive but slovenly women leaning on the door frame waving drunkenly.


Natsu sat in the room with Gajeel and Laxus all looking rather grumpy at being forced into the same room together but not willing to start a fight with Captain Scarlett in the office across the room. Councilman Dreyar walks in and lifts a brow in amusement at the stony silence and heated glares filling his office.

Ah, to be young and have the luxury of such childish rivalry's again...

"I'm sure you boys are quite curious as to why I called you here, so I'll get right to the point. Rex Igneel of the Debello Draco unit has brought something to my attention that warrants immediate investigation. I want you three to find out what you can on three young women in the company of a young man with a chained Ifrit soul form..."

"Wait! Wendy told us about that at Lunch yesterday. She said something about they prevented her from being caught in a trap?" The elder mage nods.

"Yes. We went to the location and it seemed the trap is made to snare more people. And it was a soul snare. Old. Forbidden spells, that are disgusting in their use, and most useful against young children and untrained mages. Wendy was lucky. Though she isn't untrained, she is still young and such a trap would have at least partially bound her enough that she wouldn't have been able to get back home."

Natsu's fingers tighten on the arm rest threateningly.

"So, what? We're supposed to find out information on them why?"

"They where captives, one, and we need to know who they are bound by."

"Cut to the chase old man. Why the hell is it so important you have to send *three* Dragons after them? Any mage could be sent on this. What aren't you telling us?" Laxus, the Lightning Draco, grandson of Councilmen Dreyar, was the eldest of the three and used to his Grandfather's machinations and obviously didn't really appreciate them. The elder wrinkled his nose at this.

"Hm. Well. I'm sure you know about the Disir." All three sit up at this. Anyone in the 4M's did when the Dis where involved.

"As you know we have three chairs on their board empty."

"Yeah, supposedly the entire families where attacked and murdered about a decade and thrice Summers ago during the Dark Mage Uprising. No one spared." Gajeel adds. "No sign of them except bodies." Though it was before each of their times they had been alive during that event and their father's and several of their fellow warriors had fought in it. It was a dark time and even now the agency struggled in some cases. The Dark Mages had been defeated but that had been a crippling blow. Without the Dis battle plans and tactics where reduced back to simply logic and experience and lacking the extra edge the Disir would give them. Paintings of ALL the Disir, past and present lined the walls of the inner sanctum. It was due to that very event that the Dragon's where created. In lack of better foresight, they needed more overwhelming power. Now they where more so protection for the remaining Disir.

"That wasn't exactly true. The three youngest daughters of those families where never found. The Soul Forms that young Wendy saw are the hereditary ones of those families. We want you to find them and bring them back." All three men sit sunned. If the Dis where still living, even if captured...This could be HUGE. The three Disir that worked the closest with the Mage council, the three who had been killed, where often showed to the newly trained Dracos as inspiration. The women where beautiful and had very kind and wise eyes. Now it was starting to make even more sense why they where constantly shown those paintings...

"At what cost? Gramps? To what extent can we go to bring back the Disir?"

"Any and all means, and when you find out who's keeping them captured, bring them in if possible. If not, well, the council will not be that upset about another dark mage being taken out of this world."

All three Dragon's simply grin darkly, their fanged teeth glinting in the filtered sun light before they all stand and bow, deeply at being given such a opportunity.

If the Disir where still alive, they would find them and bring them back.


Glossary:

Disir (Dis)- (Norse) Guardian goddesses, including the Norns and the Valkyries, attendant on Urda.

Debello (Latin)- [1]bring a battle/war to an end. [2]fight out/to a finish [3]vanquish, subdue

Draco- (Latin) Dragon or snake

Rex (Regis)- King, manage, direct, rule, guide