A/N: Alright, guys. I've gotten so many requests for me to publish more than once a week, that I've decided to compromise. I'll post two chapters every other week, on Monday and Friday. I know it's not twice or three times a week, but at least it's a little extra for you loyal readers. Keep in mind, the only reason I space it out so much, is for your benefit. The last thing I want is for you all to catch up with me, then I fall behind because life gets too busy, and you end up waiting months between chapters (that's legitimately my biggest pet peeve. Authors who don't update regularly). But I can afford an extra chapter every other week for you guys. ;)
So this week you get an extra chapter, next week I'll only post on Monday, and the week after that I'll post twice and so on.
Chapter 28: The After-Effects of Emotion Magic
It was early the following morning. The guild had just opened up and people were groggily showing up to start the day. Most were entirely unaware of the action unfolding in the east hall infirmary, where Dreamer had been taken the night before and was now being monitored by Master Makarov and Wendy Marvel. In front of the infirmary doors sat Mira. Piper paced in front of her, dark circles under his eyes.
"I gotsta see how she's doin.'" He started for the door but Mira barred his way.
"Piper, Master told us to stay out for a reason," she said this kindly, but there was a warning in her eyes.
He cursed under his breath and continued to pace. He ran a hand repeatedly through the long side of his blue hair and chewed his lip at the hardly contained stress. "What the hell happened, MJ?" He tugged hard on his hair. "This wasn't supposed ta happen for another two months or something,' right?"
Mirajane gave a long sigh. Her fingers fiddled with the hem of her dress. "Yes, but… She's been under so much stress lately. It's not the first time it's happened early."
"Two months early, doll?! That ain't never happened before! We didn't even prepare! We—"
The hall door opened up and Erza approached. "Lucy told me what happened," straight to the point, as always. "How is Dreamer?"
"We're not really sure," Mira answered, sadly. "Master and Wendy are with her."
"How did this happen?" Erza's hands crossed over her chest. "Is she ill or did she get injured? Was she attacked?" Her eyes hardened. "Was it Midnight?"
"You think he'd still be breathin' if he laid a finger on her?!" Piper shouted, hands balled in fists.
"Piper, please calm down." Mira touched his fist. "Getting worked up isn't going to help Dreamer get better."
Piper grinded his teeth in frustration but relaxed his hands. "…Yeah. I know."
"You still haven't answered my question," Erza pointed out. Her face was stern but also concerned. "How did this happen? Lucy told me that she stumbled into the guild hall last night and collapsed. If someone has harmed one of Fairy Tail's members, I need to know immediately."
"No, Erza," Mira shook her head. "No one hurt her."
"It ain't that simple, Scar," Piper added, looking like a man totally defeated.
"Then explain," the redhead commanded.
Piper and Mira shared a look, as if debating whether or not to obey the order. Mira gave an almost imperceptible nod and Piper leaned against the wall and faced Erza full on. "Look, it's like this… Dreamy's magic—"
He had just started to explain when the hall doors swung open again and a raven-haired seven-year-old stomped in. For as young as she was, her eyes were fierce—as sharp as the pink diamonds she could create. "Where's Mom?"
"Syllest?" Piper and Mira looked at each other and back at her.
"I t'ought you's was with Pops, kiddo?"
"I was," she crossed her little arms over her chest and stood beside Erza, looking like a black-haired mini version of the terrifying woman. "But Grandpa said he wanted to check on something and he told me to stay home and wait and that everything is okay, but I'm not stupid! I know everything's not okay because Mom didn't come home last night and she's my mom so I want to know what happened!" Tears streaked her pale face. "Is she sick? Did she get hurt? Is she in there? Let me go see her!" She made for the door but Erza clasped a hand on her shoulder and Mira blocked the door.
"I'm sorry, Syllest," Mira said gently. "We're all worried about your mom, but we have to leave her alone for now so Wendy can help her get better."
"So she IS sick! What happened?! Mom!" She bolted out of Erza's grip toward the door. "Mommy, are you okay?!"
"Sh, sh!" Piper quickly put a hand over her mouth. "You's can't be here, kiddo."
Erza had no idea what was going on, but she caught onto the urgency in Piper and Mira's expressions. For whatever reason, they didn't want Syllest near Dreamer. So she snatched the girl by the arm and tugged her down the hall toward the main room. She threw the door open and scanned the faces in the room. "Ah yes! Juvia!"
The water mage glanced up and blinked as if disoriented. Clearly she'd been having some kind of girlish fantasy about Gray, who was tiredly eating a bagel across the table from her. She looked at Erza in surprise. "Yes?"
Erza marched a flailing Syllest up to Juvia and shoved the girl towards her. "I would like you to keep an eye on Syllestra until further notice."
"Huh?" Juvia stood, looking clearly confused. "Why me?"
"I believe you to be the most maternal woman available at the moment. I expect you to take Syllest under your wing and protect her from all harm until circumstances change."
Nearby, Lucy and Levy temples were throbbing at the "most maternal woman available" comment.
"I don't WANT to be with this crazy lady!" Syllest yelled at Erza. "I want to be with my mom!"
Erza put a hand on Syllest's head and patted her hair. "I understand. Truly I do." She smiled sweetly at the child. "But right now you must be strong for your mother, until you can see her again. Do you understand what I'm saying, Syllest?"
The girl wiped tears from her eyes but nodded slowly. "Erza… You better make sure my mom is okay! Or… Or I'll never forgive you!"
Erza nodded seriously. "Oh my honor, your mother will be okay and you will be able to see her before you know it." She pressed her hand to her chest in this vow.
Syllest turned quickly and stood by Juvia, still furiously wiping her tears away.
"Juvia?" Erza looked at the blue-haired wizard expectantly. Juvia's eyes were wide and focused on the child who was now tugging on her sleeve.
Me? Maternal? I've been chosen to mentor this child—me, of all other women here? Of course it's me, it couldn't possibly be that blonde bimbo or any of the other sleazy man-stealers in this guild. But can I really do it? Am I really cut out to be a mother? Oh this is too soon! And yet… Oh, my darling Gray! This is perfect! It's my chance to practice motherhood in your name! I will coach this child as if she belonged to me! And with the black hair I can almost imagine her to be OUR child, my dear Gray! Yes! Oh, yes this is perfect! The three of us can spend time together and I can see what kind of a father you will be to our own children! This is the opportunity of a lifetime—a chance to practice the future life that we will share together, my dear sweet Gray! AH! And when you see how wonderful a mother I am you will be absolutely charmed and you'll want to start having children of our own!
Hearts filled in her eyes and steam rose from her reddened face as she imagined a scene where Syllest was holding her hand and smiling brightly at her. You're the best mom ever, Juvia. And Gray looking at her with dazzling eyes and mouth parted in desire. Wow, Juvia… You're so good with children… It makes me want to start a family of our own! Right now! His muscular arms pulling her into a romantic embrace, glorious shining lips drawing to hers, stars and roses shimmering around the two of them as they prepare to—
"JUVIA!" Erza snapped her out of her thoughts. Juvia squeaked and quickly straightened her posture. "Can I count on you to do this?"
"Yes!" Juvia nodded vigorously and pulled Syllest against her bosom. "I will take care of this child as if she were my own!"
"Good." Erza nodded and left without another word, returning to the infirmary door to address Piper and Mira again.
"Now. I believe you were telling me what this is all about."
Mira spoke up this time. "Dreamer's magic—"
Now they were interrupted by the infirmary door opening. Carla stood there and nodded at them. "You are free to come in, though you must stay quiet."
Piper was the first to quickly shove in through the door. He was at Dreamer's side in an instant.
The woman was asleep. Her skin was sickly pale, her breathing shallow. Her face was contorted in an expression of pain or fear, eyes darting under closed eyelids. Sweat beads rolled off of her forehead and she shivered under the hospital blanket. Occasionally she would moan something incomprehensible in the feverish sleep. When Piper reached her, he gently brushed aside a wet piece of her bangs and rested his knuckles on her forehead.
"She's still burnin' up…" He shot an accusing look at Wendy. "I thought you's was here to heal her!"
Wendy put her hands to her lips nervously. "I-I did my best, but…"
"Do not blame Wendy, young man," Makarov chided. "If not for her sky dragon magic, Dreamer would not have survived the night."
An icy silence fell on the room. Mirajane trembled. "Master… You can't be serious?"
"No way… It ain't ever been bad enough to kill her…"
Erza watched a few steps behind everyone, still confused but also heavily concerned. "Master. What… What's happening to her?"
Makarov sighed and sat on the hospital bed across from Dreamer. "Erza, I'm not surprised you don't know this. In fact, we've always sought to keep it as much a secret as possible, for the safety of all parties involved." He stroked his mustache. "I'm sure you've seen what Dreamer's magic can do?"
"Yes, of course." Erza looked compassionately at the woman, who writhed in agony on the bed.
"Tell me, Erza. Have you ever seen a wizard who uses charm magic without a magical charm item? A ring or a staff?"
"No… I suppose I haven't."
Mira spoke up while she tenderly stroked Dreamer's hand. "That's because it's really rare for a wizard to have natural charm magic. It's what makes Dreamer's magic so special…" Her blue eyes shimmered with restrained tears.
"And powerful," Makarov added. "Her magic, in its extreme capacity, could change the moral alignment of an entire army, or erase every bad memory a person has ever had. It could persuade emperors to hand over their entire nations without so much as a moment's hesitation."
"Is she… really that powerful?" Erza looked at Dreamer with a newfound respect. She always knew the woman was useful in controlling the mood of a situation, but she had no idea her magic could accomplish things of that magnitude.
"But it ain't that simple…" Piper stroked her hair, his lip turned in an aching frown. "If she did somethin' like that, she'd die."
Makarov nodded grimly. "You see, Dreamer's power comes at a dastardly price. How do you suppose she removes negative emotions and bad dreams?"
"I have no idea." Erza watched as Dreamer gasped for breath and Carla quickly patted her forehead with a cool cloth. Then, it occurred to her. "She absorbs them…"
"Correct." Makarov nodded. "Each time this young woman changes someone's mood she absorbs the strong emotion they were feeling. Every nightmare she replaces with a good dream must first be consumed by her own soul."
"How is that possible?" Erza blinked in surprise.
"She's able to bottle up all of that energy and store it away," Mira said. "But not forever. About once a year, all of those emotions and magical energy that she's consumed has to be released…" Mira choked on tears and squeezed her friend's hand.
"Then that is what this is," Erza calculated. "The time has come for her to release everything that has been stored up."
"Yeah but usually we're prepared for this," Piper said. He nodded in thanks when Wendy handed him a small glass of water to try and give Dreamer. "We set up a place for 'er on Pop's estate. We do somethin' with Syllest so's as she don't have to see Dreamy like this. And we gots some stuff in place that'll help her release the energy slowly so's it don't kill her or drive her crazy… Dammit, MJ, how comes we didn't see it?!"
"It's so early…" Mira sighed. "And she must have been trying to keep it from us so that we wouldn't worry…"
"Idiot." Piper clutched the blanket and sobbed. "Why you's always gotta play the hero?"
"How long will this last?" Erza asked after another moment of silence.
"It's impossible to say," Makarov sighed. "There's no way to measure the amount of emotional and magical energy she's consumed. However long it takes, she will be incapacitated for that amount of time. She will be in constant pain and she will be unpredictable and dangerous. Which is why Syllest is absolutely forbidden from seeing her until this season is over." He sighed again. "This isn't good. It seems an unlucky coincidence that this has occurred at the same time The King of Diamonds has made it clear he is planning an attack. We will have to guard Syllest and Dreamer with everything we can."
"That bastard ain't getting' anywhere near my girls," Piper said, fury on his expression. Fists clenched. Tears running down to his blue goatee.
"Ah yes. The King of Diamonds. I remember you briefing me on the situation, Master." Erza nodded.
"Then you know how important it is to ensure the safety of these two. I would ask that you refrain from taking any job requests until Dreamer is healthy, Erza. We will need at least one S-class wizard nearby in the event that the man makes an attack."
"Yes, of course." Erza pressed her palm to her chest plate, vowing to obey.
There was a knock on the slightly ajar door. "May I enter, dear me?"
"Come in, old friend," Makarov beckoned. Jezran entered with his top hat held to his chest in both hands, expression solemn.
"You's better have a good reason for ditchin' Syllest, Pops!" Piper snapped.
"I do indeed, dear me." Jezran nodded. He looked sadly at Dreamer's tossing form. "I tracked down dear Dreamer's whereabouts last night. It seems she was in the west sector of town, removing the nightmares and memories of a young boy, dear me."
Erza gasped. "The mother and son from the graveyard…" Her expression clouded over. "This is my fault… I pushed her too hard yesterday. And she must have taken so much compassion on that boy that she returned to use her magic on him." Her fist clenched. "It was my actions that pushed her beyond her limit."
"I disagree, dear me." Jezran stepped forward and gave Dreamer a sad smile. "She has been at her breaking point for some time now, dear me, but continued to push herself anyway."
"…It's his fault." Piper was trembling. His fists were so tight that his nails were digging into his palms. "That damned Oracion Seis freak! She's been using her magic double time since that bastard showed up! Dammit, Dreamy, why?! You pushed your luck too far this time!"
"P-Piper?" Her voice croaked. She struggled to open her eyes at the sound of his voice.
"Dreamy?! Dreamy, I'm here. We're all here." Piper cupped her face.
"It hurts…" The gray of her colorless eyes could just barely be seen. "It hurts so much."
Mira cried and laid her head on Dreamer's blanket. Makarov had to look away. Even Erza couldn't keep looking at the pitiful sight.
"I can try to reduce some more of her pain," Wendy said, stepping forward.
"You will do no such thing!" Carla snapped. "Your magic energy is completely depleted. Rest and restore it before you try to help her again, child."
"But I—"
"Listen to Carla," Makarov commanded. "Dreamer is in pain but it could be worse. She's stable."
"Well… Okay, but… I want to stay here with her!" Wendy's face was set in determination.
"Piper…" Dreamer groaned in agony. "Just kill me... Please! If you love me then do it! I can't take this…"
Piper choked on tears and pet her hair. "I can't do that, Dreamy. You knows I can't do that."
"Please…"
Makarov sighed and stood up. "Piper, Mira, it's time to go."
"I ain't leavin' her!" Piper refused, his body now wracked by sobs.
"You must." Makarov said sternly. "The strength of your emotions will only make it harder for her to maintain control!"
"Piper…" Mira gently took his hand. "Come on. You know how this works. Why don't we go do something nice for her? We could make origami dragons like we did last year, and we'll hang them here for her to look at when she wakes up." Mira's voice broke as the tears fell. "Or we could get her a bouquet of all her favorite flowers, or maybe we can ask Lucy to come and use Lyra to sing a song for her. Wouldn't that… be nice?" She sobbed too.
Makarov held the door open for them, indicating that they needed to leave.
"Master, I will take measures to increase guild hall security for the time being," Erza said with a slight bow as she exited the room. She glanced back over her shoulder at Dreamer, truly sorry for the way she'd yelled at Dreamer yesterday—the way she'd pushed her to control the emotions of that woman and son. She was set on making it right, whatever she had to do.
"Child, if you are going to stay here, then I insist you get some rest." Carla patted another hospital bed. "You've been awake all night."
Wendy nodded, but looked worriedly at Dreamer before sitting down.
Jezran walked to Dreamer and leaned down to plant a kiss on the back of her hand, like a true gentleman. "You are loved, my dear." He cupped her face with an old, wrinkled hand, and also left the room, placing a hand on Piper's back to usher him out as well.
Mira practically ran from the room, fighting back tears. Piper was the most stubborn to leave. He glanced back several times at Dreamer's thrashing, moaning form. He'd never seen her this bad before…
Makarov shut the door, blocking his view of her. "Go on. She will be safe."
A group of despondent wizards trudged back to the main hall, leaving Dreamer alone in the infirmary with Wendy and Carla, and Master Makarov in the hall in front of the door. He stood there silently with his eyes closed. It was never an easy thing, seeing one of his children in pain. And while he was confident Dreamer would heal, the fact that she had to suffer was heavy on his heart, along with all of her friends and loved ones. He opened his eyes after a long moment.
"Can I count on you to guard this door?" he said suddenly, though the hall appeared to be empty.
From the shadows, a dual-haired wizard stepped forward. His face was expressionless, red eyes unfeeling.
"There's no need to play coy, Midnight," Makarov said without looking at him. "I know you've been there for quite some time and I know you heard it all; so, I will ask again," voice stern, "can I trust you to keep Dreamer from harm?"
Midnight's response was to walk up to the infirmary door and sit with his back against it.
"Hm." Makarov nodded in approval and left him there.
Midnight crossed his arms over his chest and tipped his head back against the door, but he didn't sleep. His mind mulled over everything he'd overheard. About how she could absorb painful feelings and even nightmares. And he thought back to the night she answered his prayer. How much pain had she absorbed that night? How much pain was she enduring now because of the magic she had expelled on him over the past several weeks?
She cried out in the room behind him.
Midnight was used to screams of pain. He learned a long time ago how to tune them out—even how to allow cries of misery to become a soothing melody that would lull him to sleep. But Dreamer's cry… It brought him back to his earliest days in the Tower, when the screams terrified him. When his heart broke for his friends and acquaintances he couldn't help. Before the numbness and darkness. Before Brain told him to abandon all weakness. Before sadism was borne in his black heart.
When he heard Dreamer screaming in the room behind him, he was a child again, desperate for her to stop.
I can't help you. A tear slid down his jaw.
But I will protect you.
A/N: Simana, you asked about what went into the making of my characters. Are you asking specifically about my OC's? I wouldn't mind sharing some of my story and character development with you guys if you want to hear it. :)
