A/N: Chapter 4 is edited and out! Only one more chapter after this! I hope it doesn't seem a bit rushed but I never intended the story to be long.
Once again, any dialogue in italics is in a different language, the language of Seven. All dialogue written normally is spoken in the language of Fiore. Hope you enjoy!


Chapter 4: Truth

The Fotia dining room was as stunning as one would expect to see in such a place. The table itself was a long black marble structure and the chairs designed to be sat in by kings. The room was adorned in pictures and maps as well as banners, gold, flowers and of course, body guards lining the wall. As each of the children entered the dining hall, they took their usual places. Caine had whispered to Una on their way to the hall that her spot was the same as before, across from him and on the end of the side with father to her right at the head of the table. She hated sitting there, but she silently nodded.
The dress code for dinner had all of the siblings in black, the boys wearing charcoal gray dress shirts and the two girls wore simple black dresses. Una wore a small ribbon around her neck and a larger one on the back of her head, holding up a braid she wore across her forehead. They all stood in front of their chairs, only sitting when Hern finally took a seat himself.
As dinner was served, usual conversation floated about; how certain missions were going, the results of experiments, who to kill, who to bribe, who to use, who to destroy. Una tried to block it all out, not wanting to hear the words that would tug at her gut. She rarely spoke at dinner, even before she had left, she just prayed they would take it as her old a bit and not question it.
"Theron my son, why do you continue to give your sister such a nasty look?" Hern asked. The sounds of silverware on porcelain stopped and Una glanced up at her brother, knowing she was the one his glare was directed to. Theron sat next to Caine while Huntly and Clarise took the seats beside her and he had no reason to glare at Clarise.
"Excuse me for speaking so rudely, Father, but I don't understand how someone who fled the family has the right to sit next to you." Theron said swiftly. Una silently swallowed the tasteless food in her mouth but kept her knife and fork in her hands.
"Now, now, my son, Una didn't flee." Hern said calmly. "I let her go."
"But she tried to run at first!" Theron said.
"Una is special, she needed a different place to grow up in order to reach her full potential, and as her father it is my job to make sure that happens." Hern stated. He was calm, but his tone made Theron quiet his protests. "You all grew splendidly inside of this house, but Una needed a different view, that's all there is to it."
Una suppressed a shiver that ran down her spine. Images of the day she had fled and the beating Hern originally gave her at that time flashed in front of her eyes. It took all of her power not to tremble then and there at the thought of it. Theron eyed his younger sister who seemed to refuse to meet the eye of anyone but Caine. He didn't know if it was obedience that kept her silent or if she was planning something but Una knew he wouldn't trust her.
"Then, Father, don't you think it would be appropriate if we test just how much our sister's magic has grown in these past ten years?" Theron asked with a smile, pointing his fork at the girl. "To make sure she truly did learn from it all?"
Hern thought for a few seconds before clapping his hands together. "A wonderful idea, my son." He said. "And for coming up with it, I will allow you to test her out yourself. If this alright with you, Una?"
"It would be my honor." Theron said, a bit eager.
"I have no protest." Una said softly, barely loud enough for anyone but Hern to hear.
Hern's smile grew as Caine eyed his sister. Her voice and manner had gone back to what it used to be, but something about her was off. He breathed out of his nose and finished his dinner as the others began to finish as well.

Behind the estate was not only thick forest and a mountain but also a large field, specifically made for training the children of Hern. Una watched her older brother prepare himself for what they were about to do. As he stretched, she walked a safe distance from her. In the Fotia family, there was but one way to test someone's skills: combat. Of course Hern never let them get serious against each other, but a simple test of skills is best measure against another person as it were.
As the two nodded that they were ready, Hern signaled for them to begin. Without hesitating, Theron dashed towards Una and raised his fist. Flames erupted from it and as soon as he thrust his fist towards Una, they surrounded her in a hot blast. Una covered her face as she activated her own magic, changing her dress into another, a fire armor to protect her from the magic surrounding her. Theron had good magic, but Una knew a fire mage must stronger than this.
Calmly, as if not trapped in a flaming vortex, Una summoned a red bow, decorated with blue stones and copper fining. She pinpointed Theron's location and aimed a bit to the side of him. As she positioned herself, fire of her own ignited from the bow, turning into a string and arrow. Una pulled them back, the flames around her getting sucked into the heat of her fire.
Uttering but a word, Una released the arrow before Theron could realize what was happening inside the vortex he originally created. A beam of flames flew past him, digging into the earth and burning it. The heat alone from the shot knocked the man to the ground, as the arrow scorched through the forest behind the house, leaving a trail several meters wide and over a kilometer long. Una lowered her bow and changed back into the black dress. She turned her head to Hern who was smiling like a fool. His hands came together as he begun to clap and Theron attempted to get back onto his feet, shaking.
"Amazing, simply amazing." Hern said, his voice almost too excited. "I never thought it would develop this far. Una, tell me any weaknesses that this power of yours has. I will make sure to counter all of them."
"Close combat." Una said carefully after a few seconds of hesitation. "I cannot use it in too small of a place without risking getting caught in it myself or getting others caught in it as well. The armors negate the elemental properties of the bows but the impact still applies."
"So I just need to keep you at a safe distance." Hern said, scratching his chin. "That is perfect! I am in a good mood my beloved children, let us end this here today. You are all free for the rest of the evening."
With those words, Hern left with several guards. Huntly tried to help Theron stand but the older boy pushed him away. Theron stomped over to Una and stood before her, towering over her small frame. "You missed me on purpose." He accused.
"Did you want to get hit by that?" Una asked, glancing at him through her bangs.
"Father didn't once praise me because you played me a fool." Theron shouted.
"Then you should have chosen someone else to try and make yourself look better with." Una said sharply. "If you want to be his favorite that much, you have to use your head a bit more and stop flattering your ego."
Theron snapped and grabbed Una's hair roughly, yanking at it to get her to look at him. "Father is the one who made you that strong, you just got lucky, but don't forget you're still a little traitor in my book." Theron hissed as Caine got him to let Una go.
Una turned on her heel and began to walk away. "Worrying about how you see me is a waste of my time." She stated.

Laxus lifted his head as he and the Thunder God Tribe walked through a forest, just a few kilometers from where the Fotia Famiglia was situated. Thanks to tips from the Magic Council and several scouting trips by the other three dragonslayers, it took no longer than a couple of days to locate where the estate was. Now they were breaking up into teams to take down the mansion and find Una. Natsu's team was headed straight for the entrance, acting as decoys with a large portion of the guild members. Laxus and his team was to go around back and sneak in to find Una and take down any member they came across. Gajeel, along with others from Fairy Tail B-Team were going from the side, to add to the confusion. Makarov stayed outside of the estate with Warren and Biska, ready to send reports and snipe if necessary.
"Did you hear someone, Laxus-san?" Freed asked, slwoing down his running as Laxus glanced in the direction of the estate.
"Una's magic has been going off repeatedly for a while." Laxus said.
"Is she fighting?" Ever asked.
"Whatever it is, it makes finding her much easier." Laxus said, following the direction of the magic he had sensed. Despite it feeling like Una's magic though, he felt something was a bit off about it, like it wasn't exactly hers.
As soon as they drew closer, the familiar sounds of chaos and fire magic that belonged to Natsu could be heard going off in front of the house. "Didn't Natsu know he was supposed to wait for the signal?" Ever asked, stopping outside the training area of the estate.
Laxus placed his head to his forehead and sighed. "Idiot..."
"If I remember correctly, you are Laxus, yes?" A voice asked, making the four look up at Caine, who had stepped closer, a long spear in his hand. "Are you here, for my sister?"

Five minutes before Natsu's attacks had began, Una stood in a hall of the upper floors of the estate. It had been three days since she had beaten Theron in the match, and not once had he gotten near her outside of dinner where Hern forced them to eat together. Now Theron stood in front of her, anger flashing in his eyes as she leaned against the glass window, arms crossed over her small chest.
"Speak, or are you going to follow me silently like some creep?" Una asked harshly, glancing at him.
"I'm getting sick and tired of that attitude of yours." Theron stated. "Ever since you came back you've been acting like a bitch to us; only speaking to Caine and only acknowledging what Father tells you."
"I don't see why I should act nice to people I hate." Una said, glaring up at him. "I'm not that nice of a person."
"You..." Theron was cut off by a loud explosion and a flash of light coming from outside.
Una immediately turned around, her eyes widening at the sight of familiar pink hair and raging flames. Natsu began to shout her name, knocking down the guards as the rest of his team followed behind him, mostly yelling at him. Other members of the guild followed behind him at a distance. Una's hands trembled as they pressed against the glass window.
"Why..?" She muttered.
"Who the hell are they?" Theron shouted, yanking Una back by her shoulder.
"Una, there you are my child." Hern said, walking swiftly towards them. "It seems that guild of yours has decided to capture you. I am unsure how they managed to track you down, but I will not let them take you."
Theron released Una and turned to their father. "Are you certain she didn't being them here herself?" He asked. "Father, Una is and traitor, she probably pretended to get caught by us so she could help destroy us!"
Hern suddenly slapped Theron across face, sending the man to the ground as blood streaked from the spot he was struck. Una looked away as her reminder of her own injury stung in response to seeing that happen. Theron shook and touched his cheek before staring up at his father, fear shaking in his eyes.
"Do not speak ill of your sister." Hern warned. "Una has not been in touch with anyone, Caine has assured me of that. Now I suggest you go and defeat those unwanted guests of ours and prove you can be useful in protecting your younger sister."
Theron quickly stood up and bowed to his father before rushing away. "Una, I want you to hide. Go to Dr. David and stay with him until this is over." Hern said, patting Una on the head. "I will come get you once I make sure these flies are gotten rid of."
Una silently nodded and begun to make her way to the second floor. Why had the come?

Outside, Laxus crossed his arms over his chest as Caine took another step closer. The Thunder God Tribe took a step in front of their boss, bracing themselves. "Where is Una?" Laxus asked.
"So you are here for her." Caine said, closing his eyes. Freed carefully placed his hand to his temple, opening the telepathic line to Warren so that Makarov could hear what was going on as well. He didn't feel a threat from Caine for some reason, and something about him made the mage curious. "Then, could I ask you something?"
"What is it?" Laxus asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"You all seem to view Una as family, and Una sees you all as such too." Caine began. "She lied to protect you all and she thinks of you all without realizing it. So, could you please take Una away from this place?"
Their eyes grew wide at what the man asked them to do. Laxus furrowed his brows, not understanding what he was getting at. "You want us to take Una back, after everything you did to take her from us?" He asked roughly.
"Una used to be a very lifeless girl. She rarely showed interest in anything and never seemed to care. Seeing her again after she spent ten years with you all, her eyes were bright, she was full of life. It was as if in the past, that Una never existed." Caine explained. "As her older brother, I felt that I should do whatever it took to make sure she made the best decisions so that she would be happy. At that time, coming with me to Father was for the best. But now, her going with you is what is best for her."
"Why was her going with you in the first place the best for her?" Ever asked, not buying what he had to say.
"Because Father held Magnolia hostage." Caine said, making them flinch. "Father wanted that town destroyed and he would have done it that day if she hadn't come with us."
"You can't just destroy a town with a mage guild in it!" Bickslow argued.
"There is more than one way to destroy a town, it doesn't have to be by physically destroying it." Caine said.
"You threatened the people who lived there." Makarov said, emerging from the woods and stepping closer to Caine. The others looked at him in surprise, not expecting him to come close to the estate.
"There is something else tying Una here." Makarov said. "What is it?"
"That's not something I can say." Caine stated, shaking his head. "But, it could cause you to change your minds about her, and that terrifies her."
"We will be the judge of that." Makarov stated, walking towards the estate. Laxus's group followed behind him, silently asking him to leave this to them.
Laxus stared at Caine before turning to leave. "Why does your magic resemble Una's so much?" He asked, pausing.
"The five of us siblings all have different mothers. The only exceptions are Una and I, though I doubt she is aware." Caine stated. "Father took women with high level of magic or unique magic abilities and forced them to have his kids. He kept us useful ones and tossed the rest. To Father, Una is the best he made. Her magic is powerful but limited in a way he can use her easily."
Laxus narrowed his eyes and followed after his grandfather and group. When he caught up, Freed glanced at him. "Why did you ask that?" Freed asked.
"To know what he was really thinking." Laxus said.
They entered the estate and started to look around. The sound of Natsu's group going crazy at the front of the house could be heard. Laxus inhaled, trying to catch Una's scent but the house was covered in too many different scents that were similar to her and made it difficult. As they wandered towards the second floor stairs, they stopped at the sound of light footsteps going across the balcony above them. Looking up, they all stared at the familiar figure that was Una.
"Una-chan!" Ever called out, excited. The girl flinched at the familiar voice and immediately looked down, eyes growing wide as she stared at the group. Laxus noticed her take a step back and changed into lightning, appearing beside her to prevent her from fleeing.
"Don't run." He said as the others quickly climbed the steps.
Ever and Bickslow looked like they wanted to jump on the girl but Una clenched her fist and looked up at Laxus. "Why did you come here?" She asked, her voice staying low, worried that Hern might be close by. "I told you I left the guild!"
"Una, no one is going to believe that you came here of your own free will." Makarov said, stepping closer to her. "What happened to your cheek?"
Una covered it with her hand before looking at her feet. "I talked back and got punished for it..." She said softly.
Laxus suppressed a growl that rose in his throat at the thought of it.
"Please leave..." Una said again. "I came here of my own choice, you shouldn't be doing all of this for someone like me?"
"What is someone like you?" Laxus asked, anger growing in his voice.
"A child does not choose the parents they are born to." Makarov stated.
Una's chest tightened, her face riddled with guilt as she hugged herself. She didn't want to say it, but she didn't want to hide anything from them either. She was terrified of them knowing.
"Una, I understand that something is keeping you here." Makarov said. "But if you do not tell us what it is, how are we supposed to help you?"
Una bit her lip and looked down ashamed; she shouldn't have wanted them to save her, but she did. "Do you know the town of Water Lotus?" She asked softly, never looking up.
"That was a harbor town that was destroyed after a sudden drug scandal killed off so many people." Freed said, recalling the incident since it was such a tragedy at its time. "I heard even children were involved but that was over ten years ago."
"I did that..." Una said, her voice shaking. "I destroyed that town..."
They remained silent, waiting for her to continue. "Una, explain." Makarov said finally. Una's voice had cracked when she spoke, a sound he never heard in a girl who always seemed so confident.
Una hesitated but nodded slightly. "I wanted something and Father said he would get it for me if I did something for him in return. He gave me these packets of powder and told me to give it to homeless saying it was medicine and give it to kids saying it would let them use magic." She explained. "I gave it to the ones I found, most believed me, some didn't but the next day, even more came asking for it, they brought people with them and slowly people kept coming to me for it. I kept giving it to them for several weeks before Father told me to stop. After that, I stayed inside a hotel room and was made to watch as the people went crazy without the powder. They started hurting themselves and others, so many of them just stopped breathing. After a week people just kept dying from the drug I gave them. I killed all of them..."
The more she spoke, the softer Una's voice had become. At the end of it, she covered her face with her hands, biting back tears that threatened to fall as her voice barely finished the last words. The group wanted to say something, but none of them could find the right words to say. Laxus reached his hand out, but a voice stopped him.
"Did you get caught, Una?" Hern asked. He held his hands behind his back and smiled softly at the group. "They seem to be upsetting you, come here my child."
A shiver ran down Una's spine at the order and she immediately attempted to walk towards Hern. Laxus placed a hand on her shoulder, holding her back. "Are you just going to listen to him?" He asked.
"Of course she is." Hern said, interrupting whatever Laxus was going to say next. "All of my children listen to me, I am their father after all."
Una shook off Laxus's hand and quickly took her place next to Hern who affectionately patted her head. "See?" He asked the group. "It doesn't matter how you try, Una will not defy me."
Ever noticed the slight tremble of Una's fingers and rage built in her chest. "More like she can't!" The woman shouted. "She's shaking right now! That's no more than controlling her with fear!"
"I'm simply being a proper parent." Hern said. "My children hold a duty to obey me and it's my job to make sure they do so."
"The job of a parent is to make sure their children grow well and learn to do what they love." Makarov said.
"Oh, you must be the one who helped raise Una these past ten years, I must thank you for that." Hern said. "I'd love to share parenting tips but it seems you taught her to be a bit too independent."
"So you punished her for that?" Makarov glared at the man, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his staff.
"As her father it is my job to set her straight." Hern said.
"Then as her family, we will save her from you." Makarov declared.
Una bit her lip, fighting back the tears that wanted to fall at the warm words Makarov had said.


A/N: That is it for chapter 4, I would love to hear any comments or reviews, thank you so much!