It was supposed to be a simple mission. Something that the Thunder Legion could have done in a few days.
It had been two weeks with no word from the group. The only member who had stayed was Laxus, who had thought that the whole mission itself was a waste of time.
So the guild had the right to start to panic when the front doors swung open. Light from the afternoon sun blinding them all. A cry for help had them all rushing to the door even while their eyes were painfully adjusting to the natural light.
"Someone help! Freed, he's badly hurt!" The voice was familiar and it belong to their very own Evergreen, the only female member of the Thunder Legion. With further inspection the Fairy Tail guild saw that her usual outfit was in tatters.
Her stockings had big gapping wholes, cuts and scratches littering the exposed flesh. Her dress was more red than green and her hair that she had put up in the beginning of her departure was now in knots all around her face. Dry blood made it a dark brown. It seem that she had lost her coat along the way. The glasses that rested on the bridge of her nose were broken and fell to the floor when she let her head fall in defeat. She leaned against the door frame heavily for support
Close behind her was a broken and a beaten Bixslow. His mask that usually adorned his face was broken away. He was in the same state as Ever, maybe even worse.
A moment of silence passed, fear and apprehension was heavy in the air.
"He's not going to make it! Please! Someone help him!" This time it was Bixslow who was pleading for the help that they so desperately needed. He held Freed in his arms as he was slowly starting to lose any strength that he had left over. There was worry thick in his voice and to everyone's surprise, tears were gathering in the corner of his eyes.
No one had moved, the sight before them had the entire guild frozen in fear.
Suddenly there was two large figures. Both pushing through the crowd. Laxus pulled both Bixslow and Freed towards him, taking the green hair man's weight in his own arms, and Elfman picked Evergreen up from her feet.
"Everyone please make some room, they need to hurry to the infirmary!" A head of long dark blue hair was also pushing through the crowd. Wendy Marvell was able to pull their attention to her and if on cue they were rushing to help the two large men in getting their friends to the infirmary.
Natsu on the other hand was rushing to Bixslow's side and made sure that he didn't fall over.
Lisanna came to give some aid, whispering into the man's ear. Hoping that with the sound of her voice she would be able to make sure that he stayed awake.
"What the hell happen? Who did this?" It was the Master of the Guild who screamed over the chaos that was erupting in the hall. His old eyes ablaze with a fiery rage at the thought that three of his children had gotten hurt. His hands balled up to fists and a dark aura was starting to surround him. "They will pay dearly!" He threaten.
Laxus rushed to the door of the infirmity, Elfman, who carried Ever close to his chest, was close behind. Followed by Natsu, Lisanna, and Bixslow. The last to enter was Wendy.
It was starting to get dark, the once hot sun reseeding into the horizon.
"I knew this was going to happen! We should have stayed one more night at the inn and just headed home in the morning!" Evergreen growled. Her arms were crossed over her chest and a look of annoyance was contorting her pretty face. With a slight limp she continued to walk alongside her two oldest friends.
"Well maybe if you decided to wear better suited shoes then we would not have this problem…" Freed had snapped back.
With his own patience starting to wear thin, he would not have hesitated in throwing a rune her way.
Behind the two mages there was a symphony of "He's right! He's right!"
Those annoying little repeats could belong to none other than Bixslow's little dolls.
A laugh full of hysteria rang through the now night air and the man in question moved up a few steps and threw his arms over the two smaller figures.
"Freed has a point Ever baby." He turned his head to face her and let his tongue fall out his mouth as his lips formed a smile. "But then again, maybe the reason Freed wanted to get out of that town so bad was because he wants to be by his Lighting Dragon's side…" His head once again turned, but now to face an angry and blushing Freed.
"That's preposterous! The only reason why I wish for us to leave as soon as possible is because we were going over our budget. Another night at that Inn would just not have been the most reasonable idea" His argument was weak and both Ever and Bixs knew this. They also knew the feelings the Rune Mage held for the great Laxus.
"Sure it is darling. We both saw the look of utter devastation on your face when Laxus said he didn't want to come. But don't worry we understand." She pushed Bixslow away and let a smirk form on her pink lips,
The blush dusting over Freed's cheeks grew a shade darker and the sight made Bixslow roar with laughter. His dolls floating around them all sing "Freed misses Laxus! Freed misses Laxus!"
Freed let out a growl warning the man next to him what he was doing was not appreciated.
"I swear if you and your dolls do not shut up, I will not be held responsible for what I do in the next few minutes." His treat was not an empty one and they all knew it. So it was not a surprise that Bixslow and his dolls grew quiet, but that did not stop him from letting the smile on his face turn to a wide smirk that resembled Evergreen's.
As they continued to walk, they were able to see that something was starting to change around. The darkness started to seem heavier the light of the full moon having been blocked by some clouds, and because of that it was getting hard to see.
"What the hell is happening?" Ever whispered.
Why she had lowered her voice when they were completely alone was beyond her. But the feeling that they were being watched was starting make the small hairs at the nape of her neck stand up on end.
Before anyone could say a thing in regards to her question.
A light down the path caught their attention, as they noticed that it was coming closer they were put on guard.
Freed couldn't help the feeling of familiarity wash over him as he tried to examine the small light through the darkness surrounding them.
Something seem to start stirring within him, something dark and very dangerous. A soft voice spoke at the back of his mind but he couldn't make out the words. His skin started to crawl and a shiver ran down his spin. The light growing closer seem to be ignite a flame inside him that was slowly starting to burn him from the inside out.
His breathing was starting to come out in short gasps. The voice in the back of his mind was becoming louder and far clearer. Until finally it spoke harshly inside him.
"Did you think that you could run from me?"
Laxus kicked open the door and pulled Freed closer to his chest.
With the smaller man so close to him, he was able to see the state of his injuries.
It wasn't the cuts and bruises that littered both Bixslow and Evergreen, he was a far worse state. His skin was pale and covered in what he thought was dirt. Dried blood was flacking off from the corner of his eyes, mouth, and nose. But that was not that made his blood grow cold, it was the fact that his left eye was covered in black veins. They gave the allusion of cracks on porcelain.
With further inspection he saw that the black veins were not just around his eye, but they were starting to form along the side of his face. Through his tattered clothes Laxus could feel how cold Freed's skin was.
Rushing inside the infirmary he looked around to see that almost all the beds were empty. Seeing the closet one to his right, he practically ran to it and laid Freed on top of it. Instantly the white crisp sheets turned a bright red as the wounds that littered the small man's body began to ooze out blood.
Laxus panicked and without hesitation ripped his shirt off and saw that the gushing wound was over his chest. It looked more like a severe burn, the fabric of his once red coat burnt and clinging to the red and bloody flesh.
As soon as the purple shirt was pressed against Freed broken skin it absorbed as much blood as it could until it was a dark red just like the sheets below him.
"Freed come on hang in there!" The Lighting mage screamed.
Fear was gripping at his heart and the thought of losing his closest friend was doing awful things to him. In the corner of his mind there was a sliver of rage that was slowly starting to build up inside him.
He was going to destroy whoever did this to Freed and the others.
Behind him the door flew open and both Evergreen and Bixslow were carried to beds on either side of Freed. Both of them had their eyes glued on Freed who at this point had not moved a single muscle. He was so still it was hard to tell that he was breathing at all.
"Wendy!" Evergreen chocked. "Forget about us and make sure that you take care of Freed!" Tears were gathering in her eyes and she let them fall, making wet track marks across her dirty face.
Bixslow didn't let himself lay down as he move to get up. A fierce fire burned in his eyes, the mask that he was known for had been thrown away some point before he had reached the bed. Lisanna tried to get him back to the bed, but he waved her away and made it to Laxus' side. Evergreen did the same a look of pain crossed her features and she wrapped her arm around her sides to try and stop the ache in her rips.
Wendy looked at the three of them and them back to Freed. She bit her tiny lip and with a look of concentration rose her hands to hover above his chest. A light blue light surrounded Freed's upper body, but nothing was happening.
Evergreen let her eyes glow as she was ready to turn anyone into to stone. Bixslow had his dolls float close to the trio forming a sort of protective wall. Freed was still shaken from the voice that he had just heard in his head, but that did not stop him from pulling out his reaper, his dark purple wings appearing.
However the feeling he was getting for letting his magic appear had been different from the many other times in the past. It felt as if something inside him was trying to break free through his skin. Something was fighting for control over him. His knees grew weak and acid was rising at the back of his throat.
"Freed my boy! It has been too long! Look at you, you resemble so much your mother!" A taunting voice rang through the air and it made the man in question widen his eyes in shock.
The light that had been nearing them the whole time they had stood in the middle of the road moved to the side to reveal an old woman. Hair once black hair was now riddle with grey hair. Her milky white eyes were trained on the Captain of the Thunder Legion. A wicked smile formed on her lips, deepening the wrinkles surrounding her eyes and mouth.
"Dude, do you know this old hag?" Bixslow looked down at the smaller man with confusion in his eyes, but stopped short when he saw the fear and shock in Freed's dark blue orbs.
His whole body was shaking as his eyes were glued to the older woman, who seems to be having the time of her life.
"I thought I killed you?" He whispered.
His free hand shot up and clutched at the part of his red jacket that was covering his heart. It was like he was in pain
The old woman laughed and the sound echoed through the woods. "As you can see, I am very much alive.
"Well is it working?" Laxus demanded.
The sound of his angry and distraught voice made Wendy jump with fear as tears started to gather in her eyes.
"My magic isn't doing anything! I don't know why!" In desperation she forced even more magic out of her tiny form causing a sweat to break out on her brow.
A scream of agony was ripped out of Freed's dry lips as he trashed about on the bed.
Out of fear Wendy threw back her hands, the healing magic disappearing.
Laxus bolted to action and he threw himself at Freed. Wrapping his strong arms around the weak body. To everyone's complete horror Freed began to cry, the tears being that of blood, and the same went for his nose. Soon his entire face was a bloody mess. Some of it rubbing against Laxus' naked chest.
"What the hell is happening to him?" Evergreen shrieked.
Even in the state of pain she was in she was able to move to Laxus' side and began to whisper words in to the Rune Mage's ear. Through the broken sobs that escaped her lips it all sounded like she was pleading for him just to get better. Bixslow had no idea how to react so all he could do was look at his Captain in horror.
Behind them the door flew open and Porlyusica appeared, Makarov close behind her. The look on both their faces was something of pure dread and some other emotion that the rest of the people in the room could not pin point.
"Boy let him go…" The older woman ordered. Her voice as hard as steel.
Laxus let a low growl form in his throat and soon both Bixslow and Evergreen were shielding both him and Freed from the Healer.
Her eyes narrowed in rage and Makarov moved between them. His voice laced with fear, but somehow it was still held the commanding tone that a guild master should have.
"Let her heal him or else he is going to die!"
Only to prove his point further, Freed once again let a blood curdling scream ring through the room.