New Chapter! This one skips ahead a few years. Originally I had it planned out to wear we got to see every little detail of training but as I wrote it I found that it was actually kind of dull. I don't want training to take up the next, like ten chapters. That would probably bore you guys too. So I sped things up a little. Anyways, enjoy!

The Dark Fairy

Chapter 37

Four years had passed and the warm summer winds and hot sun once again swept across the continent of Fiore. Grass grew wild around the hulking wreck in the valley hidden among the northern mountains. Pine trees littered the land and provided further cover for the dreadnought. The metal hull on the outside was boiling hot. So hot in fact, that if you touched it, your skin would sizzle on it's surface like an egg cooking on a hot skillet. But the inside of the ship was still ice cold. Not from the lack of heat, the heat was still trying to enter the craft. But the sheer amount of darkness that littered the air of ship choked out all heat and light. Only artificial lights flickered in the ceilings of the Supremacy's many halls and rooms. But in the holocron chamber, there was no artificial light. Just pure darkness. The only lights came from the ominous red glow that flowed from the Sith Holocron in front of Joshua and the dull white glow of Dooku's essence floating around the boy.

Joshua's eyes were closed and his hands rested on his knees as his legs were crossed. His breathing was even and deliberate as he meditated in the dark side. He saw it all in his mind. First it was the Phantom lord incident. The incident that showed him how dangerous his powers actually were. It was an incident that introduced true fear to him for the first time in his life. Then he saw the Tower of Heaven and the blue haired bastard that always accompanied it. Joshua felt anger swelling in him as he watched the memories in his mind. He saw Maul and Tenrou island. Upon seeing the Zabrak, Joshua felt an intense hatred build in him. That was the creature that took his arm. That was the creature that nearly killed Wendy and Erza. He felt his teeth grinding behind pursed lips. Then a new feeling washed over him as he saw Erza fling him away from the island for the millionth time. A deep sorrow that sprouted in his heart came to the surface once again. His heart ached just as much as it did when it first happened.

"I sense it in you boy." An elderly voice echoed around the holocron room, "The fear, the anger, the hatred, the suffering."

Joshua's face remained like stone, unchanging and unwavering as he saw his most painful memories replay over and over in his mind.

"What are these feelings? Why must you face these painful feelings?" Dooku asked him.

Joshua took a deep breath before softly replying, "No emotions means peace. Hiding from my emotions makes me weak. Hiding from who I am, makes me weak. A Sith is not peace. A Sith is not weak. A Sith is strong. These emotions, they are another form of passion."

"And what is the Sith code?"

"Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion I gain strength. Through strength I gain power. Through power I gain victory. Through victory my chains are broken. The force shall free me."

Joshua opened his eyes. The crimson glow that was once behind his closed eyelids faded back to hazel as the dark side crept away from him. He looked up and saw the ghostly form of Count Dooku standing in front of him.

"Do you now know why you must feel those emotions?"

Joshua nodded, "Those emotions are the most basic emotions of a living creature. They are emotions of survival. Without them, we do not survive, we do not adapt, and therefore we fail."

Dooku nodded, "Precisely." Dooku nodded his head, "Rise my apprentice."

Joshua stood up and face his Master.

"Now then, time for a little quiz."

Joshua groaned.

"If I was alive I would've blasted you with lightning for that." Dooku snarled lowly. Joshua sighed and Dooku frowned, "What is the first form of lightsaber combat?"

Joshua crossed his arms, "Shii-Cho." He said with boredom evident in his voice.

"Don't give me that tone of voice!" Dooku snapped and Joshua stiffened. Dooku could be just as terrifying as Erza, but he was far more subtle about it.

"What are the strengths of Shii-Cho?"

Joshua took a breath, "It's a very simple fighting style, easy to master, easy to use. It's broad and deliberate movements mean it's perfect for blaster deflection and fighting multiple opponents."

"And the drawbacks."

"It's clunky and unrefined. Unless fully mastered and built upon, it's a form that is easy to predict and counter."

Dooku nodded, "Very good. And that means?"

"Facing a single opponent is difficult with this form of combat."

"Correct. Now," Dooku began pacing like an aged professor in front of the boy, "What is the second form of lightsaber combat."

"Makashi." Joshua replied with a little more enthusiasm.

"Benefits?"

"Makashi is designed for sword to sword combat. It's fast and accurate, almost like fencing."

"Good. Now…" Dooku sighed, "The weaknesses?"

Joshua smirked a little at his master. He knew full well the weaknesses of Makashi, it was the cause of his Master's untimely death fourteen years ago after all.

"Makashi is not very strong. If facing an opponent who has brute strength and precision it can be beaten. It's also not effective at blaster deflection."

Dooku nodded, "Again, well done." He then smirked at the boy, "What is the third form of lightsaber combat?"

Joshua blinked. There was a third form?

"I thought there were only two?"

Dooku shook his head, "No, there are in fact seven. The first two, Shii-cho and Makashi, were the first ever developed. They were created thousands upon thousands of years ago. Back when both Jedi and Sith still wielded normal blades. These two forms you have practiced and know. You haven't mastered them, but you know them."

Joshua heard the holocron chamber's blast doors hiss opened and the light footfalls of Ventress echoed around the cavernous room.

"The third form of lightsaber combat is known as Soresu." Dooku explained, "It is a defensive form of fighting. In the hands of a master, it is an impenetrable defense. The user fights back with swift counterattacks followed by returning to a defensive posture." Dooku motioned to Joshua's hip, "Activate your saber."

Joshua grabbed the hilt of his lightsaber with his mechanical hand and ignited it. A red blade crackled to life in his hands. Dooku could still not wrap his head around the ancient design the boy used. The main portion of the blade was normal enough, slightly unstable due to the blade not being focused by an actual lightsaber crystal but rather a lacrima, but it was still effective. What perplexed Dooku were the two small beams that emitted from the top of the blade and protruded outwards like a crossguard. When he first saw the blade, Dooku heavily criticized it.

At the time, Joshua replied with, "You wish you had the cross guard when you were defeated."

That comment was effective enough to shut Dooku up then and there about the design. But it still didn't mean he liked it. It looked bulky and brutish. He thought lightsabers were meant to be elegant weapons, not something that looked so savage.

"Ventress," Dooku looked past Joshua at his former apprentice. Her own saber had already hissed to life and the low hum of her blade echoed around the room along with the violent crackling of Joshua's red sword, "Demonstrate Soresu."

Ventress nodded then turned to Joshua, "Attack." She ordered.

Joshua gripped the hilt of his blade and charged. He raised it high over his head and brought the blade thundering down towards Ventress. The pale woman smirked and easily shifted into a defensive form of fighting. Joshua was shocked by the lack of wasted movement with this form of fighting. He thought a defensive style of fighting would exhaust a duelist. But thirty minutes later, he was the one who was panting while Ventress looked as fresh as before.

"Damn…" Joshua gasped before standing up straight once again.

Dooku chuckled, "I see training the boy has sharpened your skills once again Ventress."

Ventress nodded at the ghostly apparition before deactivating her saber.

"That and he's too slow still." she snidely commented.

"I'm not slow you old hag." Joshua muttered.

"What'd you call me!?" Ventress snapped at him.

"Enough!" Dooku barked, "Enough! You two are worse than children."

"I'm technically still a kid." Joshua replied.

"You're fourteen." Ventress said.

"Still a kid." Joshua shrugged as he reaffirmed his position.

"Stop arguing!" Dooku argued. Joshua and Ventress both frowned at each other before glancing back at Dooku, "Ventress, teach Joshua the basics of Soresu."

"Fine." she replied.

"Joshua, pay attention to Ventress. She may not be a master, but she knows how to fight. Follow her teachings. We will continue with your lessons in the morning."

"Yes master." Joshua bowed.

Dooku's ethereal body disappeared back into the glowing red holocron. Joshua picked up the pyramid and nonchalantly tossed it up and down in his left hand before placing back on it's pedestal. He turned around to Ventress and activated his lightsaber once again.

"Ok, what's the basics?"

Ventress grinned and readied herself in a defensive stance. She found that the brat learned best when in the heat of combat. He couldn't do basic studying. He'd get bored to easily and zone out. Demonstrations occasionally worked, but they usually failed to take root in the boy's mind. However, when he would actually try to utilize the fighting style against Ventress, his learning improved exponentially. Ventress grinned.

"Watch and learn, brat."

Ventress continued her defensive posture and Joshua charged at her. As their blades clashed and sparked in the holocron chamber, Joshua studied every slight move his combat instructor made. Each defensive parry was deliberate yet fluid. Her movements were like a small circle around her body, making it so that no matter where Joshua swung his lightsaber, Ventress's was there to meet it. He also saw that each movement was very slight. She only swung her lightsaber enough to keep Joshua's lightsaber from hitting her. This style both frustrated and intrigued the boy. He had easily broken through Ventress's form one fighting. They fought as equals at from two. But this form was challenging.

"You're too slow." Ventress hissed as Joshua swung and missed as she ducked under his sword. He then saw what Dooku meant by a quick counter strike.

Ventress stopped her sword just short of Joshua's stomach. The boy sucked his belly in as he felt the heat from her red blade. Her blade was still kept close to her, so that if the counter failed she could immediately jump back to the defensive posture that dominated this form's movements. Joshua sighed and extinguished his red blade. The unstable crackling sword quietly returned to the hilt.

"Ok." Joshua breathed heavily, "How did you do that?"

"Simple." Ventress sheathed her own lightsaber, "You are slow and you have no strength behind your attacks. You need not only precision to beat this form but strength. And a great deal of it." She looked over the scrawny fourteen year old, "And you lack the latter."

"I'm fourteen, it's not like I am going to be super muscular."

Ventress snarled, "Age is no excuse! You are soft!" Joshua frowned and narrowed his eyes at Ventress, "I think it's about time we fixed that."

Joshua blinked, "Huh?"

"I'm about to put you through the most intense physical training of your life." Ventress said with menace, "And you will learn to hate it."

Joshua gulped, "What about lightsaber practice?"

The former night sister shook her head, "A lightsaber is no good in the hands of a weak user."

"I'm not weak!"

"Physically you are!" Ventress decided to hit him where it hurts, "How long did you last against Maul?"

Joshua grit his teeth as he reminisced the most intense fight of his life. That fight felt like it lasted hours when in actuality it was more like thirty minutes.

"Now if only you had trained your body, your dear Erza may still be here."

Joshua roared and charged at Ventress, saber ignited. Ventress smirked evilly and decided to put this boy in his place. She easily ducked under a slow, wild blow and brought her knee up into his stomach. Joshua felt the breath leave his body as he stumbled forward. He then felt Ventress bring a fist up to his face as he bent over. The fist hit his face with a sickening crack and Joshua fell flat on his back.

"I don't need a sword to beat you." Ventress said, "you beat me at the Tower because of Dooku. You lasted against Maul because of Dooku. Alone, you are nothing."

Joshua shook his head as he got on all fours on the ground. He spat some blood from his mouth before rubbing his bloody lip with the back of his right hand.

"But I'm going to change that." Ventress grabbed Joshua roughly by his collar and threw him across the room, "It will not be nice, it will not be painless." Joshua felt his lightsaber being ripped out of his grasp by Ventress's strong left hand then tossed to the side. She then planted an uppercut under his chin causing the boy to stumble backwards, "You will be in agony." She stomped forwards and Joshua felt fear building up in him, "Your body will be in so much pain that you will not be able to get up in the morning with me throwing you out of that damn cabin." Ventress blocked a weak swing from Joshua and jabbed his quickly in the nose, "It will not be fun. Well, it will be fun for me. But certainly not for you." Her fist hammered the side of his head and the lights went out in Joshua's head.

….

"I don't understand why you insist on going on this same job without me again?" Carla crossed her arms and tapped her foot at Wendy.

The blue haired girl finished stuffing her brown purse before she swept some blue locks out of her face.

"Because that is the request Carla." Wendy replied as she slung a brown purse over he shoulder, "And the family is really allergic to cats."

"You said the same thing for the past four years! And I'm an Exceed! There is a difference!"

"Not to them. Sorry Carla." Wendy blinked and looked at the clock above the bar counter, "I gotta go! The train is about to leave. I'll see you in a few days!" she waved as she raced out of the rickety guild hall doors and towards the train station.

Carla sighed as she watched her best friend run out of the guild.

"She's growing up fast isn't she?" said the voice of Macao as he walked up beside the worried white exceed.

"Too fast in my opinion." Carla replied, "She's taking more and more solo jobs. And not taking me along. It worries me."

Macao shrugged, "You can't do much about it Carla. Part of growing up is becoming self reliant. And that's exactly what she is doing." He

glanced down at the white cat, "Don't worry, she'll be just fine. It's that farming job anyways, it's not like there is any danger on that job."

Carla nodded reluctantly, "I suppose you are right." She saw Wendy disappear into the forest, "But she better stay my little Wendy for a while longer."

Wendy ran quickly down the wooded trail to the train station. And she arrived just in time. She weaved her way through the large crowds of people until she was finally able to clammer aboard the train. It was going to be a long ride, but it was going to be worth it. It had been almost a year since she last saw Joshua. And he did make a really good stew. She purchased the same train ticket she bought this time every year for the past four and ran over to the train. The train whistled and began to rumbled quickly down the tracks. Wendy looked out the window at the peaceful scenery as the same uneventful train ride began. Then slowly felt herself drifting off to sleep.

….

Wendy's brown eyes slowly opened. She was staring upwards at a strange gray ceiling with a soft white light above her. Wendy groaned as she sat up. She felt the sheets over her slide down her sleepy form as she rubbed her eyes.

That was a good nap.

Wendy blinked and her eyes went wide. Since when did trains have soft mattresses and sheets. Wendy gasped and her head quickly spun around as she tried to figure out where she was. Next to her bed was a small, metallic desk with an equally dull chair. There was a plain gray dresser on the far wall. Wendy then saw the small beam of sunlight coming from the small, slit like window beside her bed. Wendy pressed herself against the window and peered out. What she saw made her heart stop in her chest.

There was a massive city. The biggest city she had ever seen. Buildings towered high into the sky and disappeared into the white clouds above them. Strange, flying magic mobiles whirred through the air. There were thousands of them flying in invisible lanes above and around the strange buildings. She looked down and saw that the room she was in was high above the ground. Down below, she saw people in robes and cloaks walking about a large, serene garden with many plants Wendy had never seen before.

Wh-where am I? Where is the train!?

Wendy gulped. Something was wrong, something was very wrong. She looked around her room and saw that the walls were almost completely flat. Where was the door? Wendy felt fear building in her as she ran her hands along the sleek walls searching for some sort of latch or handle. Her hands then ran across a section of the wall that was warmer than the rest. The wall beeped and Wendy jumped back as a small section hissed and slid into the rest of the wall, creating an exit in front of her. The dragon slayer hesitantly took a step through the doorway and jumped once again when she heard the wall beep again and the section replaced itself. She then heard a gentle chuckle nearby.

"Afraid of doors are you?" chuckled a little green creature with pointy ears and wispy gray hair on top of it's wrinkled head. The short creature shambled forwards with the help of a small, gnarled wooden cane. He wore brown robes underneath a cream colored coat that looked very warm.

Wendy stared at the strange little creature. Just what the heck was he? And where was she?

"Not a padawan you are?" The creature asked in his strange speech pattern.

"Um…"

The little green creature chuckled lightly again and walked past her. He then looked back and waved for her to follow with one of his three fingered green hands.

"Come, come. Talk in private we can."

Wendy looked back the direction the creature came. The hallway she was standing in was empty.

"Come Wendy, come." Wendy jumped as the little green thing said her name, "Much to discuss we have."

Wendy gulped. The creature seemed to exude a warm and kind aura. But she was still very uncertain about all of this. However, she knew she wasn't going to get any answers unless she followed the old green guy.

Oh, Carla would kill me if she found out about this! She thought before she swallowed her fear and followed the small green creature.

The green creature led her to a room farther down the hallways. He gently stepped towards the wall and the wall once again beeped then hissed open. Wendy peered inside as the old creature waddled in. It was a windowed room with two circular red chairs in the center. The blinds were drawn over the vast windows, letting only a little light stream through the cracks.

"Seat you may have, young one. Much to talk about we have."

Wendy nodded and took a seat on the suprisingly comfortable circular stool. The little creature hopped up onto the one opposite of her and crossed his small legs. He gently set his cane to the side of his small chair and looked kindly over at Wendy.

"Who are you?" he asked kindly.

"Um…" Wendy was still not entirely sure she should reveal that.

"Fear me, you should not, young one." the creature said, "No harm, I mean you."

Wendy could feel the genuineness in his tone. It was almost like she was talking to old Master Makarov again. Only a little more polite and less temperamental. Wendy exhaled.

"Wendy Marvell." She said shyly.

"From where are you?"

Wendy shifted nervously in her seat, "The Fairy Tail guild in Magnolia."

The creature nodded, "Sensed as much I did."

Wendy bowed her head and then looked quickly up at the creature, "Who are you? Where am I?" she asked quickly, "Where is the train? Why am I here? What-"

Yoda raised a hand which instantly calmed her down somehow.

"Many questions you have. Limited time however we posses." the creature smiled kindly at her, "Yoda, my name is. Why here you are, know not I do."

The door beeped and hissed open. Wendy's eyes snapped over to the new person who was quietly entering the room. This person at least look human, though at this point Wendy was questioning everything. He was a dark skinned man with a very bald and shiny head. He had an intense look in his eyes yet at the same time gave off an aura of wisdom that calmed Wendy. He wore light brown colored robes and he strode powerfully into the room before he stopped and glanced over at Wendy.

"Is this a bad time Master?" the man asked.

The creature named Yoda shook his head, "Not at all." Wendy felt her jaw drop as she saw a third chair hover over from the shadows and place itself next to Wendy, "Master Windu, meet Wendy Marvell."

The man named Windu nodded at the small girl before sitting down next to her.

"About to discuss future with Wendy we were." Yoda explained.

"Future?" Wendy breathed.

"Ah… another young jedi with premonitions, like Skywalker?" Asked Windu as he leaned forward.

He was surprised when he saw the grand master shake his head. "No, not premonition. For us, illusion she is. Created by the Force for us to see."

Windu's intense eyes widened and he quickly looked over at the shy girl.

"Are you saying she is from the future. And we are seeing her?"

Yoda nodded, "And for her, vision we are."

Wendy's eyes widened.

"Vision!?" she mumbled completely stunned, "L-like Joshua."

Yoda's ears twitched, "A friend of yours?"

Wendy's head snapped up to look at the old creature. Windu noticed the slight blush on her cheeks. He was about to scold her for holding attachments when he realized, this girl wasn't actually part of the Jedi order. In fact, in all likelihood she didn't even exist yet. At least for them. But when he looked at the girl he could feel the force coming off in waves from her. Only it felt very different from what he was used to.

"Close to you he is?" Yoda asked.

Wendy nodded, "He's saved my life on more than one occasion. And… he has the same magic as you do Mr. Yoda."

Yoda couldn't help but laugh lightly, "Mr. Yoda." The aged Jedi Master chuckled, "Long time it has been, since referred by that I have."

"Pardon my interrupting," Windu interjected politely, "But did you just call the force, magic?"

Wendy nodded, "Yeah, isn't this Earthland? Magic is everywhere here right?"

Yoda's face turned solemn, "You're planet you are not on, Wendy." Wendy's eyes widened.

"You are in the Jedi Temple on the planet of Coruscant. Capital world of the Galactic Republic." Windu then looked over at Yoda, "I've never heard of Planet Earth Land though Master."

"Undiscovered it most likely is." Yoda replied.

"Or it could be the same situation as Kamino." Windu said suspiciously, "Hidden from us intentionally."

Yoda stiffly shook his head, "Sense deception, I do not."

Yoda looked back at Wendy. He was intrigued by this Joshua. She said he possessed the force. Yoda sensed her as well. She was very powerful in her own right. It was just a different power than what he normally sensed. The only thing he could compare it to was the "magic" the Nightsisters used on Dathomir. But that felt evil in it's entirety, her power felt warm and bright. But she described this Joshua as having similar abilities to him.

"This Joshua, describe him can you?"

Wendy hesitated but then decided to tell the creature, "He's my age. Spiky brown hair and fair skin. Hazel eyes but…" Windu narrowed his eyes, "When he gets angry in a fight, his eyes somehow change to crimson."

Yoda's face saddened while Windu's face hardened into a slight snarl.

"A young sith." He growled.

"Describe you just did, the boy Master Qui Gon saw ten years ago."

Windu's eyes widened, "I didn't even remember that conversation till now. Master, are you saying that the boy Qui Gon saw was an apparition as well?"

Yoda nodded sadly, "Taken a dark path, the boy has." he looked at Wendy, "but close to you he is. Keeping him in the light, his relationship with you is." Wendy felt the weight of both of their gazes, "Stay close to him, Wendy Marvell." Wendy saw her sight begin to blur. Windu stared in stunned silence as the girl began to flicker and fade before his eyes. "Keep the darkness at bay, you can."

And with that, the little girl disappeared. Master Windu waved a hand slowly through where the young girl once was but was only met with air.

"What did I just see?" he asked.

"A rare fluctuation in the force you saw." Yoda explained, "Result of instability in the force it is."

Windu frowned, "That is not comforting to hear. It's also troubling to hear of a young Sith lord on a planet we do not know of."

Yoda frowned, "Far in the future that is. Worry not on it we must. Focus on the clone wars we must."

….

Wendy's eyes snapped open as she felt a hand shaking her shoulder.

"Miss. Miss." Wendy looked over at a man dressed in a train conductor's uniform. She quickly looked around her surroundings and saw that she was back in her train compartment. There was no green creature, no intimidating man, just her and the red vinyl seats.

"Miss, this is the last train stop north."

Wendy blinked and grabbed her brown purse, "Sorry, I fell asleep."

"Not to worry miss." The conductor said, "But please hurry off. We depart back south in a few minutes."

"Yes sir." Wendy quickly rushed off of the train.

She was then greeted by the warm summer breeze of northern Fiore. As she quickly walked away from the small train station towards the mountains she couldn't help but continue to think about what she saw on the train. She had just had a vision similar to Joshua. But how was that possible? And what did they mean by he had taken a dark path? She gulped. There was only one way to find out, she'd have to ask him herself.

….

Joshua's eyes opened as the warm sunlight of a new morning streamed through some holes in the roof of his small cabin. Normally, he'd be happy to see a brand new day and jump out of bed. But this time, he just groaned and threw the covers over his head once again. He instantly regretted it as his body protested his sudden movement with intense aches and pain. Joshua was now awake. The soreness in his muscles and limbs did the trick. He shakily tossed his blankets away and rubbed his head with his mechanical arm, the only part of his body that was incapable of bruising or getting sore. He groaned as he rubbed several blue and black bruises along his left side.

Ventress really wasn't kidding. This is torture. He yawned and cringed as his jaw cramped up as well. Man, this sucks! He swung his legs out from the bed and he gingerly set his sore feet down on the wooden floor. Joshua took a few quick breaths, One. Two. Three.

"OOOOOOH!" he groaned loudly as he got to his feet.

He had been taken sheer physical punishment from Ventress for over a month now. The results were bruises and cuts along his skin and well as the occasional fracture that he was told to walk off. Thankfully, the medical droids were very good at their jobs. Joshua sleepily stumbled over to the small wood stove he had in the far corner of his cabin. He yawned and cracked it open before easily starting a small fire in it. He'd cook something up today. Ventress said it was his day off. So he was going to be a complete lazy bum today.

A small series of knocks resounded through his cabin. Joshua blinked sleepily.

"Who could that be?" he mumbled as he staggered over to the door and undid the latch. He opened the door.

Wendy smiled at him.

"Hey!" she grinned.

Joshua smacked his lips before shutting the door.

"Nobody." he mumbled.

"JOSHUA OPEN THIS DOOR!" Wendy shouted.

Joshua's eyes snapped open. Now he was fully awake. He had just managed to piss off a dragon slayer. Never a good plan. Joshua raced back to the door and yanked it open.

"Sorry Wendy," he smiled sheepishly, "Was still sleeping there, I think."

"Oh sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up."

Joshua waved the apology off, "I was sorta up anyways. You know, that gray area where you don't know what's real but you know you are awake."

Wendy laughed a little, "Yeah, I know what you're talking about."

Joshua yawned again and moved back over the stove while Wendy stepped in. Wendy eyed him as he moved away. He had gotten a little taller. And was it just her or was he getting some muscles now too? But what really caught her attention was the myriad of bruises that covered his torso and right arm.

"I can make some tea for you if you want?" Joshua called to her as she stepped inside his small, cozy cabin.

"That'd be nice." She replied as she looked around.

It looked exactly the same as last year. A small bed in the far left corner. The stove in the corner beside it. A small desk in the far right corner, and a few cupboards near the door.

"Joshua."

"Yeah?"

"How'd you get all of those bruises?"

"Oh those." Joshua thought of a lie on the fly, it was getting easier by the day, "Fought a bear."

"You fought a bear?" Wendy said skeptically.

Joshua nodded, "Yup." He set a tea kettle on the stove and nodded, "Dumb thing was snooping around the cabin. Had to chase it off somehow, but it put up a heck of a fight."

Wendy frowned, "Come over here."

Joshua walked over and sat down on his bed next to Wendy. He then felt healing magic cover him as Wendy began to heal his bruises and cuts.

"That must've been quite the bear."

"It was huge." Joshua laughed convincingly, "Damn thing didn't know when to quit."

Wendy nodded quietly.

"Joshua?"

"Hm?"

"Um, the training you are doing out here. Is it bad at all?" Wendy asked carefully.

"What do you mean by that?"

Wendy sighed, "Like, is it using your dark magic?"

She could see Joshua tense up, "My magic isn't dark." He replied back, "And no, the training isn't bad. Different yes, but not bad." he looked over at her, "Why are you asking that?"

"I just- I just heard that you might be going down a dark path." she said honestly.

"From who?"

Wendy caught her breath.

"It was a Jedi wasn't it?" Joshua said quietly. Wendy's breath went to her throat. How did he know that? "In a vision?"

"How-"

"This training I'm doing. It's making me more powerful than I could've ever imagined. One ability I have learned in this time is to sense what's in others minds. Whether it is specific thoughts or emotions, I can sense them."

Wendy frowned, "So you just invaded my privacy?"

"Only to figure out the truth."

"And I can't do that with you?"

Joshua was quiet for a moment, "I'm telling you the truth."

"Don't lie to me again." Wendy replied catching Joshua off guard, "A bear? Really? That's the best you could come up with?"

"I-"

"Joshua, please just tell me the truth."

Joshua's face saddened, "I can't."

Wendy's face scrunched up in anger, "Why not!?"

"You know why." Joshua replied quietly, "I told you last year. It's for your own safety."

Wendy stopped healing him and stood up abruptly.

"I'm not some weak person that needs constant protection Joshua!" she shouted at him, "I'm stronger too. I'm not that scared little girl anymore. I've had to take the guild's most difficult jobs because I'm the only one strong enough to do them. I can take care of myself." Wendy stopped shouting at him, "I'm your friend Joshua. Please just tell me, maybe I can help."

Joshua just shook his head. He couldn't risk it.

Wendy frowned, "Joshua, I'm not going to keep coming here only for you to lie to me about what is going on." Joshua's head snapped up, "This is your last chance. Let me know, or I won't come back again."

Joshua's face hurt Wendy. He looked so betrayed when she said that. She almost wanted to say she didn't mean it. But she did, she wanted to know the truth. She wanted to help him.

"I'm sorry, I can't." Joshua whispered.

Wendy felt hurt and sadness grip her. She quietly stood and grabbed her purse, "Then… then I guess I may as well go home." Joshua bowed his head, "Don't send another request until you are ready to tell me the truth." The cabin door shut.

Joshua sat there silently for what seemed like forever. He felt it. He had just lost her. He had lost her completely. He couldn't tell her the truth. The truth would put her in danger. And the truth would only confirm what Master Makarov saw in him, darkness. Joshua felt anger swell in him and he

reached out and violently tossed the tea kettle across the room using the force. It was at that moment that the door opened to his cabin once again.

"Throwing another temper tantrum." Hissed a high voice at him.

Joshua's eyes flickered crimson. This was the last person he wanted to talk to right now.

"What do you want?" he snarled lowly.

"Who is the girl?" Ventress asked bluntly.

Joshua stared darkly at the floor, "No one."

"Doesn't seem like no one." Ventress hissed, "An old friend of yours? A guildmate." She moved up to him, "Perhaps I should pay her a little visit."

Lightning leapt from Joshua's right hand. Ventress shriekd louldy as she was thrown back through the door by the lightning. She then felt a metallic hand wrap itself around her throat before she was violently slammed against the wall.

"Go anywhere near her," Joshua snarled, his eyes a blazing crimson color, "And I will kill you."

Ventress glared back at him. After one more shove into the wall Joshua released his iron grip from her neck and she slumped to the ground. The boy went to his door and looked back at her.

"She is no one. She is no longer part of my life." It's the only way to truly protect her. Ventress looked up and saw a small tear dribble down the boy's right cheek, "I'll be moving back into the Supremacy tomorrow. I don't want anymore distractions."

The door shut and Ventress smiled. He finally cut away the last distraction. There was no doubt now. He was about to become truly powerful. Ventress sensed the turmoil coming from the cabin. That girl was far from nothing to the young Sith apprentice. Ventress frowned. She may yet have to deal with the little girl, especially if she ever ventured back up here.

And chapter! Again, a little bit of a slower chapter. Mostly character and relationship building. Though that vision Wendy had was interesting. I think the force may be trying to correct something and it thinks Wendy has a part to play in that. Like I said before too, I am speeding this up a little bit so we can get back to the really good stuff and the return of Erza during the GMG arc. That should be a fun moment. Anyways, let me know what you guys think. As always, I hope you all enjoyed! Have a nice day!