Erza and her friends disappeared into a hidden forest to elude capture. To ensure that the Royal Army won't detect their presence, Millianna and Shô used a couple of small broken branches to sweep the dirt road clean from tracks. Sting led the group into a cabin, where the White Dragon Slayer had stayed and recovered since his presumed death.

"Alright, Sting!"

Inside the house, Lector stood on a table and excitedly gave Sting a hi-five.

"You set 'em all free, Sting! You're the man!"

"Yep!" Sting nodded proudly. "It went so swimmingly that we're—"

"That doesn't change the fact that we're still fugitives," Rufus interrupted. "The Royal Army will absolutely have no mercy for us. We need to hide. The caves should hold everyone, and you can hardly see them."

Rogue shook his head, "If we keep on hiding, the Royal Army will keep looking for us. We can't just sit around and do nothing. We have to find a way to clear our names."

Orga shouted, "Rogue's right! Jiemma's the one behind all this. We're gonna take down that jerk of a Prime Minister! He'll pay for what he did to us!"

Yukino reminded, "But there are guards in every corner. If we try to fight Jiemma, we'll fall right into their hands."

Their conversation was interrupted when Erza came in, relieved to see Sting for the first time in six months. Smiling, she glanced at the White Dragon Slayer, "I'm so glad to see you again, Sting. What happened to you?"

Sting explained, "Jiemma convinced King Toma that my friends and I were traitors. Rogue, Rufus, Orga, Dobengal, and Yukino were captured, and Sting and Lector were the only ones left. We had to stay hidden, let them continue to believe that I was dead."

Orga sighed in relief, "Man, we thought you were dead when you fell down into that chasm. We heard the news during our stay at the Tower of Heaven."

Sting pointed out, "I'm a White Dragon Slayer, Orga. I don't die easily."

Lector nodded, "And I'm a White Dragon Slayer's best friend."

"You said something about Minerva still alive," Erza told Sting. "Is it true? Did she really help you survive?"

"Why do you ask me yourself?" an elegant female voice spoke from the door. Once it opened, everyone except Sting turned to face the owner of the voice. That's…

"Minerva!" the group exclaimed.

"Mistress!" Yukino recognized.

"Yes, it is I," Minerva Orlando nodded, reaching the group. "The former governess representing the Magnolia Company…" She paused to take a deep breath, "…who fell from grace because of my father's treachery."

Yukino said in amazement, "I can't believe it. You're still alive after all this time, Mistress?"

"There's no need for formalities, Yukino," Minerva assured. "Just call me Minerva."

"But how?" Erza asked puzzled.

Minerva cleared her throat and explained, "The whole kingdom thought that I was murdered by Captain Eucliffe, but in reality, my father left fake evidence to make them believe that story. I didn't actually die; I was saved by my former butler, Fingers. During the struggle, Fingers sacrificed his life to protect me."

"Fingers?!" Rufus exclaimed in shock.

"He died?" Orga asked.

Minerva nodded sadly, and pressed on, "Regrettably, yes. But just as my father's forces were closing in on me, Princess Hisui secretly hid me away."

"The Princess helped you?" Erza asked in surprise. "But why?"

Minerva answered, "Like Sting and his fellow explorers, Hisui was pacifistic towards the Fairyndians. She always believed your kind to be peaceful and prosperous, living their lives contently to the fullest in the time they have. In a secret room in Mercurius, the two shared our knowledge of the Fairyndians and became close friends. As soon as my father's hunt for Sting and his friends became apparent, we secretly hatched plans to rescue them… and each plan was met with little success. Hisui even deigned to talk to her father, but my father's influence over the King had grown stronger, and he cannot be easily swayed."

Lucy asked, "Then what happened?"

Minerva continued, "That fateful night, I discovered Sting and Lector, who were able to survive the chasm. When I brought them to Hisui, the four of us joined together to formulate a plan to get dirt on my father and redeem our names." She turned to Erza, "But by the time you were captured at the Grand Magic Ball, there had been a change of plans, and we had to ask Jellal for help."

"So that's how you saved us," Kagura confirmed, before her face turned serious. "But I don't understand. First, you came to our land as selfish and greedy, then you reappeared in front of us… changed. What's gotten into you all of a sudden?"

Sighing deeply, Minerva confessed, "I want to take this moment to say that I am very sorry to all of you. This is all my fault. I had done horrible things. It took me that attack on the Fairyndian Chief to realize that I was blind, corrupted, a tool of my father's machinations. On the way back to Fiore, I reunited with Fingers, and we talked of childhood memories gone by… What I really am, what I used to be, and what I wanted to be."

Her eyes began to shine with tears, "I was tortured and abused my whole life, forced by my father to carry out his selfish needs. I thought that if I were to impress him and make him happy, I would get a chance a glory. I would volunteer to set sail for the New World and extract the gold… until I found out there IS no gold at all."

Rufus asked, "So you finally admit there is no gold?"

Sting answered Rufus's question with a nod, "Yeah."

Minerva continued, her voice tinged with despair and regret, "And now look where that got me. Never to be with my family again. My world led astray by my own father. My life in shambles. My loved ones gone. And the future I foresaw, shattered. But when I reunited with Fingers and became a close friend of Hisui, it reminded me how blind I was."

The tears on Minerva's eyes intensified, "I was selfish. I've done horrible things to you and your people, as well as my own. If only I had listened to Sting… If only I had listened to reason…" She turned to Erza, "You, Erza, have something that I had ignored… You have the kindness, love, and support of others. Friends and family who seek you out and help you. You stood tall against all scorn and adversity, you weren't afraid, and you did what you believed was right." The tears ran down her cheeks, and her voice was mixed with anguish, "I'm sorry, Erza. It's all my fault. Please forgive me."

Erza shushed Minerva gently, and pulled her close into a comforting hug, "It isn't your fault, Minerva. I know what it felt… the pain of being helpless, the pain of being tortured, and the pain of losing loved ones. But that pain will heal, as long as we're with you. Deep down, I know that there is still someone who cares for you. I know what you did was wrong, but the past is the past. The best thing we have to do is move on." She paused to let it sink in, "Minerva… I do. I do forgive you."

Eventually, Minerva's feelings overwhelmed her. Lector, Rogue, Rufus, Orga, Dobengal, and Yukino held out their arms to comfort her, and she accepted, sobbing uncontrollably on Orga's shoulders. The sobs continued to echo throughout the cabin. Erza watched the emotional scene with a loving smile. She knew that everyone would find it in their hearts to forgive Minerva after all she had done under her father.

Sting walked to Erza and said, "Hey, did you forget about me? What am I, chopped liver?"

Erza turned and said happily, "Of course. I would never forget about you, Sting. I missed you so much." She hugged him tightly in relief. Yet for some reason, she wasn't hugging him like a lover… more like a friend.

"I thought of you every day," Sting nodded.

"But... why didn't you ever write to me all this time?" Erza wondered.

"I wanted to," Sting explained. "I must've started a thousand letters. Erza, all that matters is that we're together again."

The two hugged each other once more, but they broke apart when they heard the sound of a tool dropped to the floor. They turned to see a shrugging Jellal picking it up. If one could imagine it, they could've sworn that Jellal did that on purpose.

"What about the Fairyndians?" Rogue asked in concern, allowing Rufus and Orga to continue comforting a still weeping Minerva. "Once the armada sails, they won't stand a chance."

Erza was dispirited, "I know. And it's all my fault. If I hadn't yelled at the King and insulted him and his people, none of this would've happened. I ruined everything."

Rufus shook his head, patting Minerva's back, "No, darling. It wasn't your fault. It was Minerva's evil father. He brought this on all of us. He set you up." He took out a tissue from his pocket and handed it to Minerva, "Tissue?"

"Thank you," Minerva nodded, before she took the tissue and blew her nose.

Lucy pointed out, "Jiemma knew you wouldn't stand seeing that bear tortured. He had to plan that entertainment to lead you into his trap."

Kagura placed a comforting hand on Erza's shoulder, "Lucy's right. No one is to blame but Jiemma. You said it yourself. He is the only savage, and only a savage has a heart filled with evil and greed."

Jellal spoke thoughtfully, "We have to somehow convince King Toma that Jiemma is the real traitor. That way, he'll stop the armada and spare your people's lives."

"Are you crazy?!" Sting exclaimed. "If she comes outta hiding, they'll take her and kill her on the spot! How will that save her people?"

"Are you suggesting she can turn her back on them?" Jellal snapped.

"Well, are you suggesting she can go out and risk losing her life for them?" Sting countered.

"She can't just sit back and watch!"

"She has no choice!"

"OF COURSE she has a choice!"

Conflicted of the choice between saving her people and abandoning them, Erza was unable to stand this argument. With a groan, she raced out the door.

"Erza!" Jellal was about to go after her.

"Let her go," Kagura stopped him. "She needs some time to think."

Jellal sighed in agreement, "You're right, Kagura. Let's give her some time alone."

However, Sting was about to go after Erza, but Jellal stopped him. He pointed out, "Didn't you hear her, Sting? Let her go."

"Look, you may not care about her safety—" Sting advanced to Jellal, pushing his arm down in annoyance.

"Don't you dare tell me I don't care about her!" Jellal shouted angrily.

"You love her, didn't you?" Sting raised his eyebrow, crossing his arms.

Jellal's body suddenly froze at the White Dragon Slayer's words. Perhaps he was right; he did care for the young Fairyndian. He cared a lot about Erza, but did she feel the same way towards him?


Erza ran the straight and narrow path to the woods, leaving behind her ruby slippers. She was unsure of what she had to do: would she hide and turn her back on her people, or try to help them and be killed? Her trail took her to a crossroads, two paths on the left and right, each leading to a different area. Erza knew that the choice she was going to make can lead to different and unexpected results. Suddenly, the wind soothed her skin, allowing her to remember the words her Fairyndian brethren told her a while ago:

"Do not forget this land."

Recalling those words, Erza turned to the path on the right. She had made her choice. The path she took led her to a small river with a familiar tree at the center, similar to Grandmother Hilda. Perhaps it was time to take Hilda's advice. Erza began to sing a familiar song.

Erza: In some new place on some new face I've never seen
I might find where I belong someday

Erza sat down and splashed water onto her face to wipe away the powder covering it. She turned to see the leaves blowing around the tree.

And there may even be another dream for me
Waiting there somewhere along the way

"Listen to the spirit within…"

Closing her eyes, Erza remembered what Hilda taught her. At last, she finally heard it: the spirit within.

Who knows where I go from here?
So many voices
Only one thing's clear
There's nothing to lose
Nothing to fear

As Erza looked at her reflection in the water, she realized that acting civilized only concealed who she really was. She wanted to reveal her true self. She removed the elastic holding most of her crimson hair in a braid, allowing it to flow freely.

The past is gone
I must move on
From here

Soon, Millianna, Wally, and Shô appeared with smiles. Erza turned to them and chuckled with a blush, "You guys… I don't know what to say."

Shô asked, "Sister, are you alright?"

Erza answered with a smile, "I am now. I know what I must do."

"ERZA!" the three animals cried happily and hugged Erza. She hugged back, and the four laughed together.


Dawn was approaching, and Jellal, Sting, Lucy, Kagura, Minerva, Lector, Rogue, Rufus, Orga, Dobengal, and Yukino were waiting outside the cabin for Erza. Then, by a flick of the wind, they turned to see the crimson-haired girl returning with her animal friends.

"So, have you finally decided?" Kagura asked with a smile.

Erza answered with a nod, "I'm going back."

"Are you out of your mind?" Sting worried. "They'll kill you!"

"Then I will be the first to fall," Erza replied determinedly.

Sting protested, "They're not gonna listen to you. I mean, look at you!"

"Then how can they respect my culture if they haven't seen it?" Erza asked adamantly. "Dressing and thinking like an outsider was only my false self. I'm going to show everyone who I really am."

Rogue replied, "If that's what you want, we're with you all the way." Rufus, Orga, Dobengal, and Yukino nodded. Sting couldn't believe it; his fellow explorers were actually supporting Erza's decision!

"This is crazy! Nuts!" Sting exclaimed frantically. "Jellal, tell her she's crazy!"

Jellal replied to Erza, "You're crazy..." He finished with a smile, "…and I like it."

The White Dragon Slayer slapped his forehead in disbelief. He turned to Lector, "Lector, buddy, c'mon! Can't you tell her she's crazy?!"

Lector replied, "That Fairyndian girl needs our help. She says it's the right thing. If she's going, I'm going!"

Sting sighed in defeat, "What am I to do with you guys?"

Jellal took out Erza's necklace, the same one she removed before, and placed it around her neck. He said, "I figured you may need whatever power this holds for you. I think it's time you taught society a lesson."

Minerva went over to Erza and said, "I'm coming with you. Your people are in danger and it's all my fault. I have to stop my father's ambitions! Don't try to stop me."

Erza nodded in agreement, "Very well. We're very glad to have you with us."

Orga laughed proudly, "Welcome to the team, Minerva!"

Rufus declared, "Let us unite and defeat Jiemma!"

Minerva nodded, "I will do the very best I can!"

Yukino asked Erza, "So, what are we going to do?"

Erza answered with a firm expression, "I have a plan."