. Not As It Seems .


To tell the truth, Rhith wasn't really sure what had possessed her to sweet talk Sting Eucliffe into fighting with her by promising a kiss. And while she didn't regret it truly - Sting really wasn't that bad of a person, nor was he a bad looking person - it did piss her off that he had decided that challenging her was the only way he was going to get such things.

"C'mon," he coaxed, "Fight me."

"I'm busy." Rhith flipped the page. "Rogue-san would gladly spar with you though. Right, Fro-kun?"

"Mhm," Frosch hummed tiredly, drowsily curling into her neck a bit more. One of her arms held him against her, the other resting on the table. "Rogue would spar."

Sting wrinkled his nose and Lector snickered before slapping some cards onto the table. "Your turn, Sting-kun."

Sting's attention was diverted as he struggled to figure out a way to win, even though Rhith knew without a doubt that there was no clear way for him to win with her cheating for Lector again. Rhith paused in scanning through the book. "Didn't you offer to take them outside for more sparring?"

"Jellal-san showed up," was all he said.

It had been three days since Rhith had quit working with the Council, dropping her contract without so much as a second glance - though she did somewhat understand why they'd wanted to withdraw her from the situation. It was extremely dangerous, and they valued her abilities highly; Mest had told her as much when he'd expressed his disappointment - and theirs.

But still.

Some things were more important.

Rhith pressed her lips together as she suddenly closed her book. Sting, sensing her distress, paused in his game of cards to look over with those ever watching blue eyes. They were in the archives, she was relieved to remember as tears pricked her eyes. So no one would have to see her ugly frustrated crying. Except the idiot and the two Exceeds, but she supposed that was okay.

"Nothing," she rasped, burying her face in her hands. "I can't find anything, and Natsu has nothing. Loke-san none of the other Celestial Spirits have anything - not even Yukino-san's! No one. And they're all...they're all looking to me, because I can speak that stupid language."

Frosch purred soothingly, pressing against her as Sting sat back, watching her with a careful expression. His guild had shown up the day before. Well, a few of them had. Yukino, of course, with Rufus and Orga; Yukino had made sure to mark Rhith with Sabertooth's emblem upon her arrival, much to his satisfaction. The rest of the guild had been reluctant, still uncertain of how they were perceived by Fairy Tail despite being their allies for so long.

Lamia Scale had sent some mages, of course, but the rest of them...no guild truly seemed to believe what was going on.

And even if Lamia Scale had come, Sting was suspicious that Lyon Vastia was only there to try and woo Juvia. Gray had seemed rather cranky since his arrival and had willingly let Juvia cling to him, much to her delight and Lyon's dismay.

But nothing had been found, as she'd pointed out. Even Levy was giving up on research, moving onto training while keeping a close eye on Gajeel, who still looked ready to throttle the illusion mage half of the time.

Sting opened his mouth to speak, uncertain of what to say, and then closed it to think. Finally, he said, "Well, I mean, what the hell are you going to find? They're fairies. They're supposed to be imaginary or some kind of legend, aren't they? Maybe some mythology books?" He shrugged. "S'not like we're gonna blame you if we can't find anything."

"You might not," Rhith mumbled. "But I will."

There was a brief moment of silence before Sting gave a growl that started deep in his chest and exploded outward. He hopped to his feet, startling all three of them, and then planted his hands on his hips, glaring down at the shocked woman. "The hell, man? Stop being an idiot. Stop blaming yourself, and stop your damn moping. Trust me, it does nothing to help you."

He remembered feeling such emotions, after he'd thought Lector had been killed by the previous master of Sabertooth, and he refused to let her feel such things.

No one deserved to feel like someone's death or situation was their fault when it was the fault of the person behind the mess to begin with.

"Sting."

He paused in his rant to look back and stare at Rogue, who'd risen from the shadows with a grim look on his face. Frosch purred a greeting, but didn't bother to move, and Lector hopped over to join him in Rhith's arms as the illusion mage cradled both of them closer to her. "What? I'm in the middle of something."

"Pep talks can be saved for later," he muttered, frowning. He looked a bit disappointed that Frosch hadn't come to him, Sting noticed with a cackle. Moron. "Jellal-san thinks he knows something."

Rhith was on her feet in an instant, hope flaring through her. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go find out what he has to tell us!" Feeling a flash of sympathy for the dark-haired man, she offered the Exceed in her arms out. "You want to take Fro-kun so I can hold Lector-kun?"

He looked relieved as he snatched the cat from her arms and Sting rolled his eyes, reaching over her head to ruffle Lector's ears before leading them out of the archives to where the Fairy Tail guild and allies had gathered around Jellal and a shyly smiling Meredy. Neither looked comfortable, unused to being around so many people, Rhith guessed.

She knew exactly who Jellal Fernandes and his companions were. Of course, Ultear had disappeared long ago, presumed dead after the whole issue with the dragons. But you didn't work with the Council and not know who he was; it just wasn't possible.

His gaze darted up and then latched onto her with a shocked look, as if he'd noticed something she hadn't.

Rhith was more interested in the serious looking blonde child that stood before him, peering up at him with hard green eyes and earning amused looks from those in Fairy Tail. What interested her the most, however, was how she was only a breath away, and he didn't seem to notice, instead raising a hand in greeting.

"Hello, Sting-san, Rogue-san," Jellal said, voice surprisingly soft. Meredy smiled playfully, and Rhith arched an eyebrow when Lyon grinned, watching her. Freaking guilds and their need to flirt with one another…

"S'up," Sting replied, earning an eye-roll from his partner. He pushed Rhith closer, and the girl tripped over her own feet with a yelp. "This is-"

"Rhith Vila, the trump card of the Magic Council." Jellal gave a dry smile. "Believe me. We know of her. You've done well in the past, capturing the attentions of several us who are trying our hardest to avoid being caught."

"That's funny," Rhith muttered, "Because I don't remember doing well in anything. I remember going to another country and staying there for the last unending years of my life."

"Mest," groaned a grumpy Natsu from where he was watching the whole event. "Probably him screwing with memories."

"No, it isn't him." The girl that was literally a breath away from Jellal spoke, capturing most of Fairy Tail's attention as Jellal introduced himself and Meredy. "This is not the work of a mage messing with memories…"

"Then whose work is it?" Rhith demanded.

There was a moment of silence.

"Who are you speaking to?" Sting muttered, arching an eyebrow.

The blonde girl stared at her with wide eyes, her entire body going still. Rhith met her gaze curiously, and then glanced uncertainly at the equally as shocked Natsu, seeking reassurance that she hadn't done something wrong. Wendy was the one who gathered her wits first.

"You...can you see Mavis, Rhith-san?" she breathed.

"Um...yes? I mean, she's right there." Rhith nodded in Mavis' direction, glancing at the other Fairy Tail mages' faces. They were all gawking at her.

"What the fuck, man?" Gray suddenly said. "Mavis-"

"Interesting," Mavis murmured, "Someone who is not of Fairy Tail and even supports another guild's emblem can see me...this is a curious turn of events."

"More than curious," Makarov said from where he was sitting on a table nearby. Everyone looked over at him. "This has never happened before...does it have to do with her illusion magic, perhaps?"

Mavis tapped her lip. "Perhaps. But there is something different about her magic...so I don't think it's that." She skipped closer and Rhith took an uneasy step back, confusing Rogue when she nearly slammed into him and earned the shadow mage a growl from Sting. "Rhith Vila," she addressed, "Have you ever seen another ghost?"

"Um...not that I can think of?" Rhith muttered, bewildered. "You're a ghost?"

"What the hell," Sting grumbled, "I wanna see whoever she's talkin' to."

Jellal, too, looked interested. "Now...what I find more interesting than this development is that while Vila-san is here and breathing after years of supposedly being in a different country...is the fact that I could have sworn that we heard rumors of her death from the Council. I heard Mest muttering about it when he came around to warn me away from Hargeon."

A whole second round of commotion exploded.


Rhith's head ached by the time she stumbled into the room she was renting for the time being. She closed and locked the door behind her, and then sunk down to sit with her back pressed against it, her head in her hands as she sucked in a big breath before letting it out in a shaky whoosh.

The conversations with Jellal Fernandes were far more intimidating than she'd thought they would be, and it had taken all of her willpower not to rip her hair out for the last few hours. With Jellal questioning her being alive, the guilds curiously spouting never ending questions, the dragon slayers all showing some kind of ridiculously amplified emotion, and Sting hovering over her shoulder…

Well. Rhith was just about ready to change places with Lucy.

At least then she'd get some time to herself.

Eventually, the illusion mage dragged herself from the floor.

They had a week. Just one week to find Lucy Heartfilia before everything went to hell, and there'd been no sign of anything.

Rhith dropped onto the bed, falling backwards so that she was looking up at the ceiling. Her burgundy eyes searched nothing, her mind automatically organizing the information that had been delivered to them.

According to Jellal, he'd heard of her death. Mest himself had said it. Which made absolutely no sense since she'd been guarding over a wealthy family for years, now. She remembered coming from the country to Fiore to do what the Council had asked of her.

But then...Mest had been a part of it, and she knew of his ability to screw with memories.

Rhith bit her lip, digging deep into her thoughts.

Say that she had died. Say that she'd somehow come back to life...how? That was an important question. How the hell would she have come back to life? It was near impossible unless you dabbled in black magic, and she didn't. She dabbled in the opposite of black magic.

And how had she died?

Perhaps in the way her nightmares told her, in an explosion of terror and uncontrollable tears?

Who knew. Perhaps she'd ask Mest when he came around again.

And then there had been the whole deal with Mavis. She'd been able to see a ghost, one that could only be seen by those of Fairy Tail, when she'd clearly worn the white emblem of Sabertooth upon stomach, just below the left part of her rib cage.

That was concerning to more than just her.

Not even the friendly Natsu had been pleased about such matters.

Groaning, Rhith scrubbed a hand down her face, thinking and thinking, but coming up with nothing but more questions. "What do I do?" she whispered, "Lucy-san, what the hell do they think I can do to find you, when-"

She suddenly shot up, her heart pounding in her chest as realization struck her.

One word had stuck with her.

What if, she began to think, just what if, the fairies had their own realm, but it wasn't some kind of living realm, like the one they found themselves in, or the Spirit Realm?

What if they controlled a realm that the dead went to?

Excitement flashed through her and she nearly threw herself at the door, a huge grin flashing across her face. She swung it open and then scampered down the hall a few doors until she came across one that she knew housed Sting or Rogue. The other was right across the hall, but this one was closer., and she knocked hurriedly.

It opened a few minutes later, and Rhith had to stop to comprehend what she was seeing.

Sting was there, his blue eyes sleepy and a bit grouchy as he glared at her. His blond hair stuck up at every angle, and he'd long ago shed his clothes, wearing only a pair of sweatpants that hung low on his hips, leaving his muscular chest on display for everyone to look at.

It took her a brief moment to gather her thoughts before she scowled and turned her flushed face away. "Put some freaking clothes on, would you?"

Sting's lips curved slowly into a rather smug smirk as he drawled in response, "You're the one who came wandering up to my door, Rhith-chan. What do you need? Lector's not here, he went with Frosch and Rogue to get ice cream-"

Rhith shook her head and shoved her way past him, forcing herself to focus on the situation at hand. "I might have found where we need to get to. Which world, I mean." She crossed her arms tightly across her chest. "It's going to be a pain in the ass to get to though. It was probably difficult for them to get over here."

She'd caught Sting's attention and he kicked the door shut before planting his hands on his hips. "Talk."

She waved a hand, giving an uncommitted sound. "I'm not sure, but I think we're dealing with a place you can only get to in death. I was thinking about what Jellal-san said-"

"You weren't dead," Sting cut in, "There's no way someone just pops up again and walks around as if they weren't keeled over in the first place."

"-and it got me thinking, Eucliffe-san, what if there are ways to come back to life, but it's near impossible for us humans? Even the most powerful of mages is a human at some level, so we end up transported, if only our souls, to this world. I don't know what happens there, if it's like some religious sort of deal, but only the strongest and very rarely humans can somehow fight their way back here." Rhith managed to continue talking over him, her burgundy eyes blazing with excitement.

"You do realize," he muttered, "That means there's a possibility you aren't even human?"

Rhith paused at that. "...then I'm not human, apparently, but I feel human. I look like the rest of you freaks. I've got the same parts as the rest of you-"

"I beg to differ," Sting muttered, and she rolled her eyes irritably. His eyes roved down her form appreciatively. "I could prove it."

"Stop thinking about sex for five damn minutes, would you?"

"You're the one who won't stop looking at my chest," he pointed out with a smirk, and she swore loudly, looking ready to beat him over the head as she turned and stalked towards the door, pushing past him again. "Let me know when you're ready to be serious. I'll be a few doors down waiting for Rogue to get back."

Sting grumbled and sneakily slid between she and the door again. "I'm listening, I'm listening. "Strong people fighting their way back to life, got it. How exactly do you plan to get in and out then?"

Rhith shook her head. "Who knows? I need to go speak with that Mavis girl about the matter; since she's a ghost, she might know what to do. It certainly helps that she's rather obsessed with fairies, though I don't think I've ever seen someone so excited about fairies before...even with what's going on now…"

Sting rolled his eyes and scrubbed a hand down his face before saying in a muffled voice. "Hold on, give me ten minutes and we'll head back to the guildhall. As much as I'm sure you would appreciate it, I can't exactly run around Magnolia half-naked."

Rhith flushed again and ducked past him once more to slide out of the room. "Shut up and put some damn clothes on, Eucliffe-san," she said hotly, shutting the door quickly behind her.

She went back to her own room, making sure to grab a few possessions as she tugged a pair of sandals onto her feet. She ducked back out of the room and waited impatiently until Sting finally emerged, he wore a high-collared orange vest that made her snort in amusement. "You sure you can see over those things, Eucliffe-san?"

"Shut up," he grumbled, "I like this vest. I wear it a lot when I go on jobs; it helps protect my neck. You'd be surprised how many mages manage to get close enough to nearly slit my throat."

Rhith paused, startled by that, and then admitted, "Smart."

That was all she said on the matter, but he looked pleased enough by the fact that he'd gotten something that was somewhat close to an actual compliment from the illusion mage. "Left a note for Rogue or Lector, whoever finds it first, telling 'em where we went. Won't be Frosch that finds it, that's for sure."

"Leave Fro-kun alone," she huffed. "It's not his fault he's kind of...not completely there." Rhith crossed her arms across her chest, well aware that she captured his attention in doing so. "I swear, if you don't stop staring right now-"

"You didn't stop staring," he said cheekily. Sting smirked at the angry look that crossed her face, enjoying the way she got irritated.

"If you don't want people staring in shock at the horror before them, then put on a fucking shirt, Eucliffe-san," she seethed, and he only cackled before falling into a contemplative silence.

When they reached the guildhall, it was near empty. It was rather late, she admitted, and Mirajane Strauss was in the midst of cleaning up before heading home for the day with her siblings. The only others still there were Makarov, who was conversing with a watchful Mavis, who noticed their arrival almost immediately, and Natsu and Happy, both of which who were sitting close together at the bar with worried looks on their faces.

Natsu spun around as soon as Rhith cleared her throat, flashing a quick grin and Sting made a displeased sound, unhappy with the fact that Rhith was far more friendly with the fire mage than with him.

"Rhith-chan," Mirajane said in surprise, "We thought you guys went back to your rooms for the night?"

"We did, but I think I might have an idea on where Lucy-san is," Rhith told them.

Natsu nearly tripped in his eagerness to get over. "You do?!" He shot to his feet, Happy snapping into the air beside him as they darted over. Sting shifted unhappily at the rapid movement, his body tensing in preparation to get defensive. "Where?"

Mirajane hurried over with Makarov and Mavis not far behind her, the ghost watching Rhith with shining curiosity, as if she was excited by the new puzzle presented before her. Rhith waited until they all stood before her, and then explained, "I was thinking about a few things when it came to my attention that it might not just be any world we're trying to get to. What if it's a world that requires certain keys to get to?"

"Well we've got plenty of those," Happy offered. The blue Exceed twitched his tail, dark eyes excited. "We just have to look at Lucy's!"

Rhith giggled at the cat, and then shook her head. "Not that kind of key. Certain circumstances. I think getting to this world requires death for the most part. I don't think Lucy-san's dead," she said hastily when Natsu growled angrily, "But most people would have to perish to get there."

Mavis was the first to speak in response - not that Sting could hear her reply. "It's possible," she murmured, fingers clasped at her lips. Her emerald eyes watched Rhith carefully. "More than possible. Explain further."

So Rhith did. She explained about how she thought getting in and out of such a world worked, about how only the fairies could enter and exit it without working their asses off, and she spoke of how it might explain something about her own supposed situation.

"I think I have an idea of how we might be able to get there, and it'll nearly kill me to do it, but it'll be worth it," Rhith finished off with, ignoring the darkness that crossed the dragon slayers' faces. She pressed her lips together before continuing. "If I can create the illusion - an illusion that is believable by the person it is happening to - of their death, than they may be able to be taken to that world."

"So it's kind of like their soul would be taken out of their body or something like that?" Natsu looked puzzled. "Does that mean Lucy's body is hidden around here somewhere?"

She shook her head. "Lucy-san's situation is unique," she murmured.

Makarov was quiet before he murmured, "I believe that you may have a plan that will work. So what does that mean about yourself then, Rhith Vila, if you are able to supposedly leave and enter such a difficult world without surprise to Jellal or the Council?"

Rhith licked her lips hesitantly. An idea had been tickling at the back of her mind for quite some time, and it hurt her - killed her - to say it out loud. "Fairies...they've always been good with nature in the stories. I love gardening; I grow plants that are far more advanced than those of others. My magic is practically of theirs, almost theirs to an exact point in strength and ability, and the illusion that we saw...the way they moved. The way they acted. It reminded me of myself."

"You aren't a fairy." Natsu spoke stubbornly and Sting muttered irritable agreement, shifting closer, and Rhith easily rolled her eyes at both of them and stepped away.

"No," she said firmly, "I'm not. I would have the same harshness to my personality, I think, if I was. And they want to kill me. I think I might have some fairy blood in me though, maybe from generations ago or even my own parents. They hated me with a passion. It would explain a lot."

"But not explain what it explains," Mavis said with a puzzled look. "How could such a creature be willing to mix with a human? They are of normal size, though shorter than the average man...so I suppose it would be possible…"

"In any case," Sting began, crossing his arms. Mavis pouted at being interrupted, but Sting, not seeing, simply continued. "We know where she's at. We know how we might get there. So...what do we need to do?"

Rhith immediately jabbed a finger in Natsu's direction. "I can only work such magic on myself and possibly two others at a time. It still might kill me, though I suppose that's not such a big deal now, eh? Natsu's going. End of story. He is the one who needs to come for certain." Natsu looked pleased with the decision, and exchanged an excited look with Happy. "Which leaves an empty slot."

Sting grinned, opening his mouth to speak.

"I think I'd like it to be filled with Redfox-san."

Sting's jaw clicked shut, immediately angry. "Hey!" he huffed, "He's the one who's all for trying to get you killed!"

"And if I get into trouble, he'll be the one who thinks of Lucy-san and Natsu first," she retorted firmly. "He won't hesitate to leave me behind. He will not protest should I tell him to take them and get out of the area. That is why I want Redfox-san going with us and not anyone other than Natsu, because I know that he will do exactly as I say. And he won't try to prove himself," she added, glaring at Sting when he grouchily spat a laser in Natsu's direction, frustrated that he wasn't apparently going.

Mavis nodded her approval. "Your tactics," she mused, "Have a ninety five percent chance at success, a four percent chance of failure for you, and a one percent chance of a failure for all of you to return."

Rhith grinned. "Perfect." She turned on Makarov. "This will use your mages and your children to succeed, so I'll ask you if I may do so?"

Makarov smiled warmly. "You are more than welcome to, my dear. You may have been marked by the Sabertooth emblem, but you are considered more than just a friend for your attempts to save our nakama."

"Strauss-san," Rhith asked, turning to Mirajane, who cut her off.

"Just Mira is fine."

"Mira," Rhith corrected, "Could you contact Redfox-san? It's best we get this show on the road. Before I chicken out and everything goes to freaking hell again."


Surprise! A possible location on Lucy and a possibility on what's up with Rhith! ;)

To JcL107, who asked a question...I may or may not be confused about what you mean about the whole dragon slayers and needing to befriend and protect thing. I'm a bit confused. |D

Thanks to reviewers (CrystalVixen93, MaybeALittleBroken, The 0bservanc3, Kauia, Aqua King, LePengwen, sassykitten1701, PinkFireandGoldenDragons, NaLu and InuKag, and JcL107!) as well as those who favorited and followed!