Chapter 10

Iris had already sussed the forest out the night before, and she was right about it. It was practically impossible to remember the way around and Iris figured the only way they'd be getting out would be by having Happy fly up and guide them. Natsu seemed cheerful as always, looking eagerly for any signs of the kids. Unfortunately, there were none and Natsu's spirits soon dropped.

"Where could they be?" Natsu wondered, worsening the sick feeling in Iris's stomach.
"I don't know, Natsu," she replied, watching Happy as he ran off in front of them. "They could be anywhere." They could be dead.
"We'll find them, I know we will."

"Hey, Natsu!" Happy called out, "come-" his words cut off abruptly, causing Natsu to panic.
"Happy!"
Iris heard some giggling that sounded like children, and stopped as she was chasing after Natsu, who was chasing after Happy. It stalled him too.
"You get Happy," Iris ordered, "I'll check this out."
"But-"
"This is the first sign we've heard all day, we can't let it slip away and we can't lose Happy. We'll rejoin later."

With no time to respond, Iris sprinted off, running until she was out of breath. Then she listened again. She took off in the direction of the voice. The forest was alive with noises earlier, but now everything seemed silent. "Hello?" She called out, spinning on her heels. "We're here to help!"
She heard a cry and took off after it, finally arriving where the voices came from. But nobody was there. She searched, poking through the bushes around her when she found it.

Her heart sank looking at it and bile rose up her throat. She had been right, in the end. The children had been killed, only to be found my a complete stranger, their bodies mangled in bushes. Iris wanted to scream. The children hadn't done anything wrong, why were they punished like this? It was in that moment she vowed to get revenge on the monster who had done it. It was also in that moment a sharp pain erupted from the back of her head, knocking her out momentarily.

She opened her eyes, her body against the floor, and looked up at her attacker. A man and woman, both dressed in green with their faces concealed. Her head felt fuzzy, but she pushed through it. Her hands scrambled for the book and pen in her bag. With shaking hands, she began to spell. There was no way she could hold them off now, no way at all.

Iris finished her word as something heavy was once again hit off her head. This time it knocked her unconscious.

When Iris came to, she was chained to a wall somewhere dark. Wait, no it wasn't dark, her eye sight just hadn't come back properly yet. The room wasn't dark, Iris knew dark, it was filled with harsh lights, making the woman in the middle look pale and much harsher than she did the last time Iris saw her.

"Iris Leith." Iris watched the woman speak, her heart hammering in her chest. "I had a funny feeling you'd be the one I needed in the end, should have took you back at that pond. Would have been much easier, but you're here now." Iris began panicking, the lilac haired woman was scary enough when Iris wasn't her enemy, this time was so much worse.

The woman's beauty seemed to scare Iris all the more. Her dress was much more elegant this time and her hair was pinned up, that was probably her queen of the world outfit. Iris finally got a look at her face. While it was as pale as it was last time, it was much harsher. Her cheek bones really stuck out and her makeup was made up of very cool colours. Her eyes were grey and Iris took care to avoid them.

"Not entirely sure why I need you," she admitted. "My partner claimed you were essential, so here you are." Iris only nodded. "He's out at the minute, dealing with some pesky flies, but he'll be back soon and we can sort everything out."
"Flies?"
The woman's smile was cruel. "Yes, you know wizards from Fairy Tail? Many people call them flies. And we have two annoying ones who insist on trying to ruin this, a silly cat and pink haired boy."

Iris's breath caught in her throat. Natsu and Happy. She had to help them. But how would she help herself? If only she could get her hands free...
"I know who you are, of course," the woman continued. "I do my research, you know. Which means I know that as long as you can't use your hands, I'm safe. Unless you learned to write with your toes, of course."

"So, w-what's your plan?" Iris questioned, trying to calm herself down.
"I'll be controlling this world."
"World domination? Original." That was something Iris had learned through messing about with some of her old guild mates. When she felt threatened and scared, she didn't think through her words properly.
"This world belongs to me, always has. It's simply being returned after all these years," she explained with a sickly sweet smile. "Is that wrong?"
"When it involves killing innocent children, yes."

"They found us," the woman snapped. "How could I let them return after that?"
"Easily. They're children, how could you even-"
She interrupted Iris. "Don't talk like you're any better than me! I know what you've done!"
Iris recoiled. "W-what?"
"Don't act dumb. I know what you've done and I can guarantee your dragon slayer friend will hate you when he finds out," she promised.
"H-he isn't going to find out."

The woman didn't answer, just smirked as she turned to the man who had run in. "Amey, Lee's back."
"Perfect," she beamed, clapping her hands lightly. "Tell him to come quickly."
"Lee?" Iris questioned, feeling her head spin.
She nodded, "he's an old friend of yours, I believe."

Iris couldn't believe her eyes as Lee, her Lee, emerged from the door way. His looks hadn't changed at all in the past week, but everything had changed for Iris. Her whole world had changed. "Lee?"