X-X-X-X

Chapter 1

X-X-X-X

I was crying, I don't know why I was crying. I was dragging a large round stuffed rabbit behind me as I walked. I was rubbing at my eyes, still sniffling. I entered another room and I saw the figure who was laying asleep stir. I crawled beside the person sleeping and I was staring into warm brown eyes.

"Did you have a nightmare, darling?"

"Momma..."

"Come here." I curled up beside her and she ran her fingers through my hair. "It'll be alright."

"Momma, can you sing...?"

"You want a lullaby?" I nodded my head. "I remember one song your father liked quite a bit. He always listened when I sang it."

"Papa...?"

"That's right, it's his favorite song. It's mine as well." The woman rested her cheek against the top of my head. "I remember tears streaming down your face when I said, I'll never let you go. When all those shadows almost killed your light. I remember you said, don't leave me here alone. But that's all dead and gone and passed tonight. Just close your eyes. The sun is going down. You'll be alright. No one can hurt you now. Come morning light. You and I'll be safe and sound."

As she sang, I was lulled back to sleep. I couldn't make out the rest of the words...but I felt so safe in her arms. This person was my mother, my precious mother. Her arms are full of warmth and love...I couldn't help, but feel safe when I'm with her.

I was awoken with a start, the sound of my door being slammed open. I watched with blank eyes as a young child was thrown in my cell. The dream is gone and this cruel reality replaces it. The door was slammed shut once again and I slowly stood up. My body was sore and stiff since I was sleeping while curled up in a ball. I stood beside the child that joined me and I stared at his unconscious body blankly. He was still breathing, but from the looks of it...he tried to fight back and got hurt as a result.

"Foolish."

I pulled the raggedy blanket off my shoulders and I used it to cover him the best I could. I returned to my position in the corner of the room and I shut my eyes, but didn't sleep. I began thinking of that dream. When I dream of that place...of that person's love and warmth...it was a great way to escape from this cruel reality. However, good dreams rarely occur.

"Ugh..."

"You're awake now?" My new cellmate was looking around wildly after waking up. His piercing red gaze immediately zoned in on me the moment I spoke. What beautiful red eyes...just like rubies. "Do you remember anything?"

"Rem...ember...?"

"Don't force yourself to then." I leaned back a bit, releasing a small sigh. "Many of us won't remember our names in the beginning so we use names based on our looks. My first cellmate gave me the name 'Aqua' because my eyes are as blue as the ocean. You're the fourth one, my fourth cellmate I mean."

"I don't...what...?"

"Does your head hurt?"

"Yeah..."

"It's normal. You're new so your soul needs time adjusting to your new body."

"I don't..."

"We died before, do you remember? These bodies are simply vessels our souls were shoved into. That's right, you need a name for now."

"Name..."

"Do you remember yours?"

The boy looked at me, obviously confused before slowly shaking his head. I suppose he's still struggling to adjust. I was the same...it took me hours of my first cellmate to convince me what was occurring was reality. While you had 'knowledge' it didn't mean you have your 'memories'. Memories is what defines one's past and who someone is...having knowledge means nothing when it comes to knowing who you are. A name for this one...his eyes are like rubies so...it should be fine even if it is a bit girly. I thought as the boy continued to stare at me blankly.

"Ruby. Your name will be Ruby." I said giving him a slight smile.

"Ruby...?"

"Your eyes are a ruby red. It's only a temporary name until we learn of your actual one."

"I see..." The newly named Ruby turned his gaze towards the ground, thinking. "...I...don't remember..."

"That's normal. Tomorrow, we'll be in for quite a lot of pain so be prepared."

"Pain?"

"As I mentioned before, these bodies are merely vessels for our souls. Many of our memories are locked away and these people want the 'knowledge' that can be used. However, the knowledge about what they want can only be unlocked when certain memories come forth."

"Memories..."

"Do you have anything you remember?"

"...A...grassy area...a forest maybe..." Ruby shut his eyes, a peaceful look was on his face. "The big blue sky..."

"At least your first memory is a good one. Hold that memory close to your heart...because the days to come will be hellish."

"Huh...?"

"There are three ways to regain one's memories. Naturally by letting time take its course. Certain moments that is similar to one you experienced before. The last...is negative emotions like pain, anger, hate..."

"I see..."

"Also this is very important to remember." Ruby was suddenly paying attention, good. "Whatever memories you gain...anything with real power behind it, don't say a word."

"I don't..."

"You want to get out, right?" Ruby looked at me and slowly nodded. "If you regain enough of your memories of who you once were...you can gain certain powers, but it depends on who you were before you ended up here. If you have any real power...then remain quiet and wait for your chance to act."

"Wait..."

"We wait for our chance..."

"Okay..."

"Get some sleep to regain your strength."

"Alright..."

Ruby moved so he was lying beside me, but I didn't move from my curled up position. I reached out, placing a hand on his head. I ran my fingers through his dark colored hair and I watched as he moved closer to my hand. He's similar to a cat or pet dog...it was strange. I pulled my hand away and I hugged my legs.

"You said so before...that we have to wait for our chance to act...but you died before it could happen..." I whispered remembering my first cellmate.

X-X-X-X

"Aqua, do you remember your hometown?" Ruby asked after a rather brutal torture session.

"...No, but I remember my mother..." I answered trying to will the pain away.

"Your mother?"

"I don't...rather I can't tell what she looks like, but I inherited her brown hair. It might sound strange, but I'm happy my hair is brown in this life as well...My mother...is kind...warm..."

"She sounds nice..."

"She is...I always dream the same dream...of her singing to a scared child version of me..."

"We are children though."

"Heh, our bodies are physically young...yet it is our souls that are old."

"...Will we ever get out?"

"I don't know...we can only hope...while we wait..." Ruby reached for me, his hand taking hold of my own. "Ruby...?"

"...When we get out...let's travel together. Let's see the ocean together."

"..." I gave Ruby a small smile, he's too kindhearted...but we don't know if we'll be alive or dead when we finally get out. "Yeah...I want to see the ocean with you."

"Aqua..." Ruby gave my hand a squeeze, one I returned. "...We'll...always be together, right?"

"...Yeah, I hope so."

"Good night..."

"Night, Ruby."

X-X-X-X

"AQUA!"

Strange...it...it doesn't hurt...it doesn't hurt. It should hurt, but it doesn't hurt. I stared at Ruby with wide eyes before my gaze turned from him to the sword sticking out of my abdomen. That's right...pain...hate...anger...sorrow...negative emotions are what causes memories to surface. That's why...That's why they always make one watch the other die...that's why they put us in cells in groups of two or three. I won't die right away from this type of injury...but I will die if I don't do something soon.

"Ru...by...?" I questioned turning my gaze back to the boy.

"DON'T TOUCH HER WITH YOUR FILTHY HANDS!" Ruby screamed his eyes glowing.

I watched with wide eyes as this...this darkness pulsed off the boy, sending everyone near him flying. I wasn't sure why I wasn't thrown back as well, but if I was then I would have surely died. The men quickly tried to fight back, but...Ruby...these dark purple spheres appeared in his hands and he used them to attack the men. Blood splattered everywhere, men were torn apart...whether or not they were attempting to run or fight. When blood splattered and hit me, my mind went blank as thousands of memories surfaced. I remember...everything...I remember who I am...I remember everything...!

"Ruby...They're all dead...stop..." Ruby's eyes looked sharply in my direction. I saw it...the madness and anger in his eyes as those tears streamed down his cheeks. "Ruby..."

"Aqua!" Ruby quickly ran to my side and he grabbed the blade with his hands, about to pull it out. I quickly grasped his hands, stopping him. "A-Aqua, what are you doing? We have to-"

"You pull it out...I'll die. I want to say something be-"

"I won't let you die!"

"Ruby..."

"I won't let you die! You...You're...! I have to know a move that can heal you!"

"It's okay..."

"It's not okay! We promised! We promised we would go see the ocean together, that we would leave this place together!"

"Ruby..."

"I wish...Wait..."

"Ruby?"

"Don't move."

Ruby pulled the blade out of my abdomen ignoring my cry of pain. He placed his hands on my injury, applying pressure. I was gasping for air as he...began to glow. It was like tiny stars were forming around him before disappearing. I released a hiss when Ruby pressed against my injury, but...the pain went away? Ruby pulled his bloodied hands away and I slowly sat up, looking at where I was stabbed. There was scars, yes, but they were old and fully healed...the newest addition was where I was stabbed...and it was pink.

"You...How did you...?" I asked looking at Ruby.

"There is a move called Wish. If one wishes upon a star...they can heal another person." Ruby explained.

"Ruby...Thank you..."

"I'm just glad you're okay."

"...Ruby, we have to get out of here."

"Yeah, we can finally be free...!"

"We have to be careful." I picked up the dagger that was used to stab me and a long sword from the grip of a dead man. "...If we want to get out, we have to fight our way out."

"Right!" Ruby seemed to realize something as I examined the sword. "Aqua...My name...I remember it. My name is Yami. I'm an Umbreon, a Pokemon."

"Yami...It suits you!" Darkness, it suits him very much. His dark colored hair and red eyes that glowed in the darkness. It is like almost like he was made to be part of the shadows, but still shines brightly for a select few to see. "My name, I remember it too. My real name is Leila Walker."

"Leila...that's a cute name."

"Let's go, Yami!"

"Yeah!"

Yami and I left the room, sneaking about. It didn't seem like long before there were guards after us, we fought our way to the best of our abilities...but the longer we fought the more guards that appeared. I didn't have any real powers...and Yami was the main target since he was killing guards left and right. I wasn't too sure when we ended up separated, but...I heard Yami scream.

"Yami!" I turned in his direction to see him gripping his arm, blood dripping down. I struggled to stand after a harsh kick to the abdomen. I refuse...I absolutely refuse to let anyone harm my friend! "Stop it!"

"It seems...you have woken me up...child...do you want power?"

"Please...! Please, I have to save him! I don't want to see anyone I care about die in front of me again!"

"What's with this brat? Has she gone crazy?"

"Just kill her and be over with it."

"If you want my power...you must continue to fight. If you fight, please do it in her place. This horrible thing these humans are doing...they must be stopped...you now have the power...so stop this from continuing. Can you promise me that?"

"I promise! I'll stop it! I'll prevent anyone else from becoming like us, so please...! Give me power...!"

"Then you shall have it."

I snapped my head up as a sword came dangerously close to hitting me in the head. The only reason why it didn't hit...was because my hand, incased in ice, stopped it. A sharp steel sword against my ice...it didn't even dent it, their weapons were no match for my ice. My throat...something...something is wrong. My throat hurts.

"T-This brat!"

"Die!"

"..." I stared blankly at the men and I took in a deep breath through my mouth. "Ice Dragon's Roar!"

I released a harsh breath of cold air after dozens of ice spikes left my mouth. The men targeting died due to the spikes and I turned my head to where Yami was to find a man about to kill him. I stood up and I lunged for the man. I spun in the air, my ice claws growing larger until I reached him. My claws got caught in his shoulder and chest and I dragged my hand forward, killing him in one swift motion.

"Never again...Never again will you harm us...!" I said staring at the remaining men.

"Leila..." Yami said staring at me.

"Your sins have piled up and it's time for you to pay! This place will become your graveyard, humans!" I shouted as ice formed along the walls and floor.

X-X-X-X

"...You guys know what to do from here on out, right?" I asked staring at the massive amount of children like Yami and myself.

"We can't stay in one location too long. We might have killed many of the guards here, but they will find out we escaped. We need to separate from here, continue traveling for as long as possible while hiding who we really are. We've already destroyed what paperwork we could find, but we're not safe staying in one location for very long." Yami explained as a little girl with pink hair bandaged his arm.

"Leila-san...will you two...Are you two going to..." I stared at a young boy who held a girl's hand. Both their left eyes held the English word Destroyer. "Will you two..."

"We're going to continue to travel, but if we find a facility like this...we'll destroy it. We're weak now, but we need to get stronger. Once we're strong enough, we'll destroy those places one by one."

"What about those not like us?"

"We'll return them to the nearest town. We also have to erase their memories somehow."

"I can do it...well, I can seal their memories of this place."

"Alright, do that. Afterwards you must separate yourselves into groups of two or three. If you really wish to travel on your own, then please wait until you are stronger. We...No, I need your help. I need information, whatever you can gather. If we run into each other, then we'll swap information. We can naturally sense those like ourselves."

"Alright."

"Leila-san...what about this child?"

"This child?" I stared at the small blond haired boy who was staring at us in confusion. "Ah...he must have arrived recently...Do you remember your name or do we need to give you one?"

"Hibird...I'm Hibird."

"Hibird. Who do you wish to travel with? Many of us already have an idea who we wish to travel with, but you don't haven't had a cellmate before..."

"Can I...go with you?"

"...Alright."

"We're taking him along then?"

"It's not like we can just leave him. Okay, we're burning this place down to the ground soon. Let's get out of here after gathering what little supplies we can. I want this done within the next two hours! We can't afford to let those guards come back with reinforcements!"

"YEESSS!"

X-X-X-X

Chapter 1 Ends

I've finally got around to rewriting this! While there isn't any big changes, there will be as I plan on showing more of the shenanigans Leila, Yami, and Hibird ran into before becoming part of Fairy Tail. I'm also pumped since I finally caught up to the latest Fairy Tail chapters~! I'm finally caught up with everything so I'm incredibly happy~! I have nothing to add at this point so that is it for today! Until next time my dearies~! Bye-bye~!