"Laxus! If you are in my bed you are dead!" I warned through gritted teeth. "In fact if your in my apartment at all you are dead!"

I dead panned as I scanned my room. Looking for the slightest hint that he was here. Nothing looked like it had been touched. There was no sign of his bag, or shoes. I smirked when I realized he should know not to hide. Then thinking he probably wasn't here 'cause he's to much of an arrogant jerk to care if he's caught in my house.

I sighed heavily, finally relaxing after a long journey and then fight, against the one and only Erza Scarlet. I kicked off my shoes and jumped straight into the bed after checking the thing quite violently to make sure there aren't any intruders. I drifted off into what I hoped would be a long, uninterrupted, blissful sleep.

I woke up, slightly sore from the previous days events. I groaned when I realised the sun was on my face, the wind lightly drifting through. I looked around my room half dazed. I noticed a blue cat curled up next to my head, sound asleep.

Then there was some black haired guy, with studs on his face and ears passed out on my couch. Then there was the pink haired guy with the white scarf laying on the floor next to my bed. I felt my eye twitch in irritation.

I picked happy up, in his half drowsy state he thought he was flying. "Why can't I go where I want?" He asked weakly. I chucked him at Gajeel, causing the metal head to jump up, suprised.

I then turned my gaze to Natsu, who was still sleeping peacefully. I jumped up and body slammed him, elbow to the head. I looked back to Gajeel who was frozen on the spot. I stalked over to him, sitting down beside him. When he relaxed I punched him in the side of the face, causing him to fall off the other end of the couch.

"Why are you two and a cat in my apartment, in my bedroom?!" I hissed, I could feel the dark aura surround me.

"C-Coras scary. Natsu save me!" Happy said, ducking behind Natsu.

"You are the ones who invaded my apartment!" I was practically seething. "Get out!" I pointed to the door.

"Your worse then Lucy with her guests." Natsu pouted. "We came here so you'd tell us the truth. Who is your dragon?"

I looked down and to the side, away from the two dragon slayers. "Get out." I said softly. I wanted them to leave. I didn't think about her for a reason. It hurt to much. They hadn't moved for a few minutes. I looked Natsu in the eyes, "Get. Out."

He looked hurt. Betrayed. "We won't tell anyone. Right, Gajeel?"

I couldn't help but think of Natsu as a younger brother that was immune to the world. He always managed to see the brighter side of things. The good in people. Gajeel hadn't replied to Natsu but I could feel his eyes on me. "I know you won't say anything. But..." I breathed in deeply. "I lied when I said my dragon disappeared in X777."

"Where is it?! It might know where Metalicana and Igneel are!" Gajeel rocketed up from his spot on the floor, siting next to me again.

I shook my head, "She was a very wise dragon."

Happy raised his hand, speaking as he done so. "What do you mean was?"

"Marieas was killed in X776 by Arcnologia. I barely escape, the only reason I did was because she sacrificed herself to do so. She found me when I was three in the year X765. I was fourteen when she was killed and joined Fairy Tail a month later. Three years after she was killed I became an S-class mage of Fairy Tail." They all looked shocked, sad, impressed, puzzled. I try not to stay at the guild to become more powerful. I didn't want to be as helpless as I was that day. I swore I wouldn't let it happen, that I'd become more powerful.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know." Natsu looked anywhere but at me as he spoke, freezing when his eyes met the back of the door. "Why is Laxus' coat there?"

"He came over before he left town. Remember how I said I slept on the floor?" They both nodded. "That was because of that loon. Would you like to burn the coat, it would make me feel better." I noticed them all pale. "What?"

"He loves that coat, we'd be fried."

"Aye!" Happy agreed, terrified by Laxus.

I laughed at their reactions. "Your reactions cheered me up. Who wants to go on a mission with me?"

"Makarov said we can't go on a mission with you remember?"

I scratched the back of my head, laughing. "He didn't say anything about Gajeel. So how about it metal head?"

"Metal head?" He looked like he was about to argue before paling, probably remembering what happened with Laxus. "Nahh, I do my jobs on my own."

I nodded, thinking about what missions there may be. Then realising the council would have said something to Makarov by now about the volcano incident. Causing my own face to pale at the thought. "I'm heading to the guild." I had a quick shower putting a new change of clothes on. I exited my apartment to see Natsu and Gajeel waiting with Happy. "Lets go ladies." I called to them as I walked past.

We arrived at the guild by nine. Makarov was sitting on the bar bench as usual. Everyone was staring at us as we walked in siting at one of the tables. Master looked extremely worried. Maybe because the two dragon slayers siting with me were being completely civil with me siting here.

I noticed Freed walking over, this was the first time I'd seen him since the festival, his hair was shorter now. He stopped just in front of me, looking serious and deep in thought at the same time about something. "Am I right to assume that only those here and Levy Know the truth? Are you going to tell the guild?"

I looked him in the eye, shifting in my seat to face him properly. "Yes and no, I am not going to say anything."

"What is Cora not telling us?" Master interrupted our conversation, now standing next to Freed.

"Freeds secret. It's nothing that will cause harm to the guild." I let loose a large smile. But Makarov didn't seem to buy it.

"Hmm... What are you hiding Cora?"

I stared blankly at Master, "I just told you, it's Freeds secret. I have nothing to hide." He looked at Freed, expecting an explanation. By now the whole guild was silent. Listening intently to our conversation.

"Cora knows another Dragon Slayer." He said ever so calmly, still looking intently at me.

Everyone at the guild was still looking at me, "There's already two in the guild we don't need another. I thought one was bad enough." I said it like it was nothing. Gajeels mouth hung open, like he'd been rejected by everyone. "N-no, I didn't mean it that way Gajeel. I'm sorry."

"It's to bad there are three in the guild then." Freed stated. I glared at the green haired mage. He wasn't phased by it. "They are actually in the guild at the moment." He continued, trying to get me to respond, exposing my magic.

I hopped up and started over to the mission board, only to be stopped by Makarovs giant hand. He spun me around to be facing him and the others. "You know you don't have to hide things from us."

"You already know the truth Master Makarov, you saw the marks." I said weakly, fealing my eyes glaze over, losing all emotion. I averted my gaze from him towards the ground.

"You knew and you didn't tell us?!" Natsu practically screamed, annoyed at Makarov.

"I figured she would tell everyone when she was ready." I looked back up, everyone had started talking. "What type of Dragon Slayer are you?"

"Spirit. Please, don't tell anyone. Only people within the guild know."

It took a few hours, but I finally got them to agree not to say anything. I was glad to have found such a guild. Many wouldn't care about your wishes and flaunt what they knew around without a care in the world about what the repercussion would be. What happened made me think of something Marieas had once said, 'What's past is prologue.' Even though I hadn't told them, I had rejected what I was. I rejected it thinking I didn't deserve being called a Dragon Slayer after what had happened, but in doing so I had rejected a part of myself.

I walked back over to the request board, although decided on not going on an S-class quest. Just something easy going for once, and probably do so for a while.


~Three months later~

I was back in Magnolia, after what seemed like a small holiday. The day everyone found out I was a Dragon Slayer I had taken enough jobs to keep me busy for a few months. And now it was a sunny day, like any other. Well what I thought would be like any other, untill I noticed the town was in its Guildarts shift. I had never thanked him for finding me in the East Forest out of Magnolia and taking me to the guild. He had left for a job before I woke up and I hadn't seen him since I passed out the day he found me.

I was meant to return last month but had taken an S-Class quest that took me to the other side of Fiore, then took a good two weeks to complete.

I wandered to my apartment strolling along slowly. I was enjoying the warm air. I entered my apartment, thorugly searching it for any sign of the blonde haired lightening mage. There was no trace of him save for the coat that he left here. I was seriously considering destroying it, but then he would probably make me get him a new one. Or I could keep it here and charge him for leaving it here for so long. The latter option sounded better.

After refreshing with a nice long hot bath, I made my way to the guild to report my sucess. I pushed both doors open, "I'm back!" The guild looked strangely empty. Save for Macao, Wakabe, Makarov, Mirajane and a few others.

"Welcome back!" Mira' chimed.

I walked over to her, sitting on a stool by Makarov. "Where is everyone?"

"Training for the S-Class exams. How did the jobs go? I heard you took an extra one on your way back." Master Makarov said curiously.

"Yeah I did, the jobs went well. Who are the candidates this year?" I was genuinly intrigued.

"Juvia, Gray, Natsu, Mest, Freed, Levy, Cana and Elfman are all participating. I'd like you to stay for them, to help keep watch."

It sounded interesting, "I wonder who will be promoted, if any will be that is. It would be an honour to watch." I grinned. "Can I have a latte Mira'?" She nodded in response. "I thought Gildarts was back, or did Magnolia break?"

Master laughed, "Hes at his house. He should be coming back soon."

Mira handed me my latte, "Have you met Gildarts? I didn't think you'd ever been here when he was." She was puzzeled at how I knew the older man.

"He was the one who brought me to Fairy Tail. You came back from a job the day after I joined. He saved my life, I still haven't thanked him." I took a sip of my latte. "You make these so well Mira'. I heard there was a new member that joined the guild while I was out, the Sky Dragon Slayer. How is she fitting in?"

"Her name is Wendy, she's fitting in well. The exam is tomorrow. It seems you allways come back when something big is happening." I nodded in agreement.

"It seems I miss more when I'm gone. Like Phantom Lord, and what happened at Hargeon... Natsu is destructive."

"What has he done this time?" The voice made me jump, I didn't notice another person take a seat beside me when I was talking. "Sorry, didn't mean to make you jump. But what did Natsu do?"

"You didn't hear about what he done to Hargeon Port?" I turned my head towards the new mage, trying to figure out who the voice belonged to. I froze on the spot, "Gildarts!"

He scratched his chin, thinking. "Have we met?"

"You literally saved my life eight years ago, taking me into the guild. You left before I could thank you. So, Thank you!" I hugged him without thinking, realizing what I had done I let go quickly. Regaining my previous composure. "Sorry."

He looked to be thinking, "Its fine." He sat there for a few minutes staring at me, scratching his chin trying to think of where he had seen me before. The look on his face seemed to shout 'lightbulb'. "Are you the girl I found in the East Forest, with the scratches? Kima?"

I face palmed, dragging my hand down my face, "Yes, but the names Cora. If you don't mind me asking, what gave you those wounds?"

"I failed my last mission, I was attacked by Arcnologia. I'm lucky to be alive." I felt my self stiffen at the name, I could tell I was shaking. "What did I do?" He was pulling his hair out?"

"A-Ar-Arcnologia?" He nodded. I felt myself shake more as my fears were confirmed. The black dragon of the apocalypse, the dragon that killed Marieas. I looked at Makarov, "He... killed...the dragon that raised me, Marieas... The reason I was injured... all those years ago." I looked back to Gildarts. "You are lucky to be alive." I said weakly as I tried to stop shaking.

They managed to piece together what I meant, talking to each other. Mira' lead me to one of the rooms in the guild to rest for a while.

I must have fallen asleep, I realised. The sun was out and shining through the window.