Rodren led the members of Fairy Tail (and his unconscious sister) to a huge coliseum-like structure, a building obviously housing the magic guild Spartan Hall.

Statues of Roman centurions gazed kindly at the newcomers, their very figure noble and benevolent. Rich red flags adorned with the mark that Rodren and Randra bore flapped noisily in the wind, fringed with gold and hanging high above.

"We are here." Rodren strode purposefully into the wide doorway, followed by a slightly more cautious Erza. The others looked around at the wide hall, observing the clean wooden tables, plain but neat floor and the simple paintings depicting battlefronts and rearing horses.

"We live without too much glamor. It's a part of being a member here." Rodren almost apologized. "No no, it's fine." Lucy said quickly. "It's rather homey feeling."

Several men and women were busy at work at their tables, writing out reports, or filing paperwork of a mysterious nature. Some looked up with surprise at the newcomers; others ignored them.

"Welcome back, Rodren." A tall man, about forty years of age, literally the size of a lamppost strode over to them, ebony eyes staring deep into their own. "You are late."

"Yeah, I had some trouble. You know how it is." Rodren shot back, tilting his head upwards to meet the glare of the lamppost man. "This is Ulysses Kunai, Fairy Tail. He is the most proficient fighter I've come across in my travels."

"Flattering." Ulysses had skin like midnight, eyes that were clear and focused, and a mouth that quirked wise-cracks and never smiles. At his wide belt hung a scimitar that made Happy nervous by its keen edge and its razor thin blade. "We have been awaiting your arrival, Fairy Tail."

"Wait, you've been waiting for US?" Lucy jerked upright. "Since when?"

"Since we posted that request." Ulysses sat down heavily on a nearby bench, making the stone structure creak.

"YOU posted that request?" Erza tilted her head to one side. "I assumed Soron was the client. After all, he was the one who greeted us."

"We passed out those requests to every eligible magic guild in Fiore, but it was you we were hoping for." Rodren explained, taking his snoring sister from Erza's arms and setting her gently in a sofa nearby. "Dragonslayers draw out more information from Soron. We recorded everything in your conversation."

"I'M AWAKE!" Randra popped up with a start, blinking. "Oh, we're back. Hey Fairy Tail!" She smiled and then fell over. "Ugh, I'm so woozy…"

"You used Fulfillment again?" Ulysses snorted. "Honestly, Randra."

"Oh hi, Ulysses." Randra sat up slowly, rubbing her head. "And yes, I used it. We had to save the Dragonslayers from Soron's draining magic. How are you feeling, by the way?" She asked, turning back to Natsu and Wendy.

"I'm fine, just really tired." Natsu was still leaning heavily on Lucy, panting for breath after their long walk to Spartan Hall. "I'm more concerned for Wendy."

"She's smaller and more delicate than you, so the regeneration process will take a little longer. But she'll be fine." Randra patted Wendy's head, which was still resting on Gray's shoulders. Gray looked uncomfortable to be playing big brother, but he was not complaining, so that was a good sign.

"So why do you need us again?" Happy flew carefree around the humans' heads.

"Well, little blue cat, we need you for several reasons." Ulysses snatched Happy from the air and placed him down on the ground (it was distracting him). "Soron no doubt has told you of the Half Dragon."

"Yeah, the child of the Sun Dragonslayer and the human wizard." Erza nodded. "Rodren, you said her name was Eori?"

"Eori lives here with us, in Spartan Hall." Randra chirped. "And before you freak out, she's not going to eat you."

"The Radian Half Dragon is here?!" Carla bristled. "But that creature is dangerous!" Her fur was on edge and her eyes were wide with fear. That dream…

"Yeah, I don't like that vibe." Natsu growled. "And Soron said he was going to feed us to that thing!"

"Relax." Rodren pointed at a tiny crystal Lacrima hanging around his sister's neck. "Randra, will you do the honors?"

"Of course, dear brother." Randra beamed and took off one of her many necklaces, the one shaped like a diamond. "Follow me!"

She stood up, wobbled a few steps, and finally fell on top of Ulysses. "Carry me?" She pleaded, and the big man sighed before piggybacking her to a small, metal door with a KEEP OUT sign. Randra held the tiny diamond Lacrima close to the door, and it slid open, revealing a tunnel bathed in darkness. Natsu, with his ultra-dragon smell, sniffed and scented mint.

"She is very sensitive to light." Randra explained. The Fairy Tail members looked at each other in puzzlement.

They proceeded down the tunnel, the door closing behind them. Rodren held a torch in his hands, one he took from the doorway. The tunnel smelled fresh, not dank, as they originally thought, and Gray (still carrying Wendy) noticed that the dirt on the ground wasn't dirt, but sand.

"We approach." Ulysses rumbled, and soon a pale, glimmering light began to dispel the darkness of the tunnel, and the tunnel widened into a cavern. Now, Natsu noticed, it didn't smell like mint anymore, but rather, a sweet, pungent smell.

"What on earth?" Erza suddenly burst out, and Fairy Tail staggered back in amazement at the sight that greeted them.

A huge square crystal hung suspended from the air, and they saw with shock that inside was a little girl, contained in the crystal much like Master Mavis was inside of Fairy Heart. She sat there, reading a book, like she was in a prison cell.

But that wasn't half of it. The girl, who had creamy bronze hair that hung in ringlets all around her face, wore a dress made out of a rainbow-colored gauze, misty and ethereal. From her back sprouted a pair of delicate, filmy golden wings, clawed at the tip, arching several feet in length.

The light that shone around the cavern was coming from her body, not the Lacrima. The girl's face was white, almost grey, and her eyes, a haunted stormy color, gazed at her visitors with listless curiosity.

"We have some guests, Eori." Randra softened her tone, as if speaking to a child. "Do you want to greet them?"

Eori looked at them, then turned away. "I have no interest in them." Her voice was surprisingly deep, like a grown woman's instead of a little girl's. They shuddered; the voice awakened strange thoughts within them.

"They're Fairy Tail! You watched them during the Grand Magic Games remember?" Randra prodded. Eori looked up from her book, staring vacantly at the slightly unnerved Fairy Tail members. "I have no interest in them." She repeated.

"Oh well. Let us know if you need anything, okay, Eori?" Randra said kindly. Eori just gave them her back. Lucy could not help but stare at the beautiful golden wings, drooping from the girl's shoulder blades like angel wings. Instead of feathers, however, they were scaled.

"Come on." Rodren gestured to them as they walked back out, all of them quietly thinking about that strange deep voice, and those empty eyes so unusual in a child.

"You can stay here for the night, if you want." Randra broke the silence. "All the inns here are as expensive as you can get, and we don't charge anything."

"Thanks." Lucy said gratefully. Wendy finally stirred on Gray's back, who set her down on the bench nearest to them. "You awake, kid?"

Wendy's eyes were fuzzy from sleep. "WhereamI?" She slurred. "We're at Spartan Hall." Lucy stroked the girl's hair. "It's a magic guild. That's where Rodren and Randra are. You need to meet Ulysses and Eori."

"Eori's gonna kill us." Wendy said softly, her voice strangely deep. "She's gonna swallow us whole and erase the name of Fairy Tail from the kingdom."

"Wendy?!" The others drew back, alarmed. "Are you feeling okay?" Natsu bopped his fellow Dragonslayer on the head. "You smell funny."

"She's gonna kill us…" Wendy fell back to the table. But this time, there was blood coming from her mouth.

O.O

Eori felt the tension in the air rise, and heard the muffled cries from the guild. She smiled to herself, and spread her wings, relishing the new magic power she had stolen from the Maiden of the Sky.

The crystal around her glimmered away, and her uncle the Moon Dragonslayer stood there, stretching out his hand. "Let's go, niece."

"I'm coming." She stood, and unfurled her wings. "Just give me a moment."

I'm just getting started, Fairy Tail.

TO BE CONTINUED.

A/N: Leave a like a review!