Brick was finally here, his feet couldn't move any faster, his horse and Wolves were taken to the stables and he rushed up the steps, still holding his bag, he just remember what was inside and had to be really careful. The winter winds blew with an icy scream as the winds whipped across him. He slammed opened the large door, where the Samurai armor guards were standing. They didn't pay him any mind, they knew he wasn't a threat, a red lantern floated over him as he rushed to any room he could think of...First the Dining Room.

He could barely think, all he could think was...was if Blossom was dead, what the hell was going on?

Her room...that's it...

Brick rushed up the steps and was inches away from the room when he crashed right into Him.

"Oh Prince Laxus, your Uncle has been expecting you-"

"I don't have time for this, GET OUT OF MY WAY!"

"Please sire, you don't wish to see her."

"Yes I do!"

"Please Sire, she's in a delicate state, if you go in all agitated like this, it could make things worse, please, your Uncle is in his room."

Brick was reluctantly pushed away, he looked at the room door as he was pushed further up the stairs and into his Uncle's room. His Uncle was sitting at his table, sighing documents. He looked up with a worried look as if he was about to get up but then he let himself back down.

"Laxus...I thought you were the Physician, but it's good to see you all the same."

"What happened?! What the hell is going on?!" Brick slammed both his hands on the table, nearly causing a bottle of ink to shake.

"Nephew, please calm down." The Emperor Lord said.

"Calm down...calm down! WHY IN THE HELL ARE YOU CAME! YOU SEND ME A LETTER THAT BLOSSOM HAS BEEN POISONED! THEN YOUR MANGIRL THING WON'T LET ME SEE HER! WHY AREN'T YOU WORRIED ABOUT HER!"

"WORRIED? WORRIED? I'm terrified Laxus." His Uncle whimpered which wasn't like him, he actually looked worried like he could burst into rage and tears, "My Little Wife...has been poisoned and she's at death's door. Any excitement...any agitation of any kind could be fatal."

His words cut deep, Brick's body felt weakened and his legs were ready to crumple. He couldn't believe it, Blossom...his Blossom, at Death's Door.

"Damn you..." Brick hadn't even taken his drink, he could feel himself slipping away, he started to chuckle as his body tenses up, "This is all your fault, Old Man."

The Emperor Lord looked at him, he knew saw the signs immediately.

"You...If you hadn't taken her from me...Cherry wouldn't be like this...No one was gonna poison her in Asheia." Brick grabbed his forehead, his hand clenching tightly as the shadow was hovering in front of him, it bend over to him, its red eyes looking directly at him. He was struggling, struggling to keep it together, his nails were clawing the table.

"Nephew, here...drink this. I knew you would be in a hurry and forget your elixir. I asked Chihiro-Hime to make you some." The Emperor Lord pulled out a large jug and poured some in a cup, "Please Nephew, drink."

"You ass...if she dies-" Brick grabbed the jug and chugged it down. His mind felt the effects immediately and the shadow was forced back into the corner, "I will never forgive you."

"You are right, it is my fault. If she was your wife, this wouldn't have happened if she was with you, but all isn't lost. Kaoru recognized the symptoms, she's flew to her family's village and should be back. Miyako and Chihiro including one who was spared, have been up for several days, caring for my men and Hirono has been caring for her nonstop, not ever leaving her side, but...several of my men have passed, including Nobu. Nobu was one of the first Ronin to join my cause," His Uncle stood up, he sniffed as if he was about to sob but he straightened himself back up, "I can't tell you what a blow this is to me. I don't trust humans much...anymore but Nobu was the closest thing to a human I trusted. He will be sorely missed and avenged. The Kingdom is in moaning, they pray for her recovery of this 'illness'. It would be best if the people knows it's an illness."

"What was the poison in?"

"Chihiro-Hime's new and improved Snow Cream dessert and in...her famous strawberry preserves. Miyako and Hirono were spared from the affects because they're being yokai, Kaoru was spared because it was a plant, she threw it back up. I was spared because I was working on these documents and one of the apprentice were spread because of the fact that he doesn't like sweets. Your brothers were spared on account they had left to their estates, business to take care of."

"How do you know it wasn't food poisoning?"

"Food poisoning...you know Chihiro-Hime, that is impossible, there has never been one instance of anything going bad...plus I know poison when I see it. This had to be a diabolical attack on me for Champoo, a cowardly attack. Well, he won't be able to do it again, not if he wants to face Chihiro-Hime's wrath. She is beyond furious, its actually really scary." He had a sweat drop and Brick gulped at the thought of an angry Belle holding a knife with glowing red eyes.

"That's not what's bothering you."

"No...no it's not. This was...far too...what's the word, I hate to think this...

"This was an inside job?" Brick guessed.

"As much as I hate to think that...all these men are loyal to me, But they're human, and humans have no real loyalty." His Uncle sat back down and whispered, "It has to be, no stranger could've know that Chihiro was making that specific dessert today but she's been announcing it all week and it had to have been planned, someone had to watch closely to know Chihiro's schedule."

"What's the poison?"

"Kaoru said, its deadly nightshade or Belladonna, which can only grow in Shade Valley, that's in the eastern part of the country; but I have another worse feeling that she was the target."

"No...hell no...you can't be serious?"

"The whole Palace knows of her fondness for sweets and strawberries."

What are her chances?"

"All the men who had both the snow cream and strawberry preserves are all dead, all five of them," The Emoeror Lord watched as Brick was in turmoil, "The others made smaller doses only have stomach issues and sweating, discomfort. Little Wife is the last, but...Kaoru said she must stay calm, so the poison doesn't spread so quickly. I can't even pin point the man."

Brick had placed his bag down, but he stood up in frustration, he felt as hopeless as his Uncle, "So...I can't even see her."

"But I brought you here for another reason...I must return back to my troops, to the battle."

Brick looked back, his eyes widened, "You're shittin' me, your wife could be dying!"

"LADY EMPRESS! PLEASE!" Brianna shouted, bringing everyone' attention to outside.

Brick looked outwards to the balcony to where the screaming was coming from.

Blossom was dancing in the snow, she was in her robe and barefoot. Brianna was trying to get her.

"I'M BURNING! HAHAHAHA! I'M BURNING! MAMA! THE MOON IS BURNING!" Blossom laughed madly as she spiraled around and around, it was difficult, "WON'T YOU COME WITH ME! WHERE THE MOON IS MADE OF GOLD!" Blossom continued to laugh and struggled as Brianna wrapped her tail around her to hold her still.

"It's like dealing with Ryoko all over again." Belle said as her and Bubbles were standing outside, ready to help.

"You two can go back and help the others, I got her." Brianna struggled to hold back her tears as Blossom suddenly went limp.

"You...I've gotta get down there and see-" Brick was rushing past his Uncle who stopped him.

"Laxus, I need you to watch things for me."

To Blossom

Kuro placed a cold rag on her head as Brianna poured the hot water from the basin and out of the balcony. Kasey and Hagatha were in their own room, not allowed to even come in.

Brianna had just finished cleaning her up after she threw up and getting her out of those wet, cold clothes. Her eyes were blood shot and her eyes were red as if they were swollen, her breathing was hard and labored, her lips were cracked and dried, her mouth was so dry even though Brianna kept giving her fresh water, she struggled to swallow it. Her pupils were wide and dilated and her head was in pain, her heart was pounding in her eyes and making her head ache worse.

"Mama...Mama...where's...Papa?" Her eyes were moving side to side, Blossom was hallucinating, in her eyes Brianna was her mother.

Brianna stood in the distance to give herself a few minutes as tears rolled down her cheek. Brianna could never get use to this part of mortals, how fragile and short lived their lives were.

"Mama...can you sing to me? Dolly dolly makes the world go round."

Brianna sniffed and wiped her tears away, "Of course, Lady Empress."

"Mama, why do you call me Lady Empress, what's that?"

"Stop calling her that, she's your friend." Kuro whispered.

Brianna swallowed hard, fighting back the tears, "Why don't I sing for you? Blossom?"

Blossom's POV

I felt so weak, it hurt just to breathe. My vision was so blurry...and I just...am I going to die.

Where am I?

Something was glowing, I see...a streak of apple red hair...

"Mama, Mama, am I dead." I asked.

Shush, Rose Blossom, my sweet little Rose Blossom. Follow me." I felt her hand touch my cheek.

"Mama." I could barely see but I felt something so warm.

"Rose Blossom, remember what the sirens sing, A Song of the Sea."

I remember that, Mama singing to me and to Kasey, she called it the Song of the Sea, from her homeland. I could remember her, she sat on my bed, tucking me in.

Hush now, my story

Close your eyes and sleep

Waltzing the waves

Diving in the deep

What...this song...a different voice was singing it but...

The vision blurred and I saw...something else, someone swimming in the ocean, was it...Brianna, I could actually see her. We were surrounded by clear blue water, the sun...or at least I think it's the sun shining above. Brianna...it looked like her had ripped out of her clothes and her hair was long and black with one white streak, I could see it so clearly.

Stars are shining bright

The wind is on the rise

Whispering words

Of long lost lullabies

She was spinning around in the water, her long tail swirling under her. She was swimming in this vast clear of blue. Her tail behind her as swam so fast, all these creatures in the water.

Oh won't you come with me

Where the moon is made of gold

And in the morning sun

We'll be sailing

She flipped and spun as she swam towards the surface, her long hair wrapped and followed her as she reached up at the surface as if she wants to touch it but she swam backwards back down to the deep.

Oh won't you come with me

Where the ocean meets the sky

And as the clouds roll by

We'll sing the song of the sea

She was floating on the surface, but then she plunges and flips backwards into the deep waters. Her tail was glaiding across this white stuff at the bottom of the water, she spins in a circle, looking up at the sky, with a smile that I've never seen on her face.

I had a dream last night

And heard the sweetest sound

I saw a great white light

And dancers in the round

Castles in the sand

Cradles in the trees

She was scooping her hands of this white dirt at the bottom of the water and she sprung up from her tail and jumped out of the water into a front flip.

Don't cry, I'll see you by and by

Oh won't you come with me

Where the moon is made of gold

And in the morning sun

She was swimming fast with these animals that were jumping up in the water.

We'll be sailing

Oh won't you come with me

Where the ocean meets the sky

And as the clouds roll by

We'll sing the song of the sea

Rolling

Rolling

Rolling

Rolling

She was swimming in a circle, her tail was spiraling around her and her body stretched and she swam under a large creature. Shewas swimmingaround it and through these bubbles

Oh won't you come with me

Where the moon is made of gold

And in the morning sun

We'll be sailing free

Oh won't you come with me

Where the ocean meets the sky

And as the clouds roll by

We'll sing the song of the sea

She was swimming on her back, looking up at the bright moon

Normal POV

Blossom had a smile at the singing and this wonderful hallucination but her breathing was just as rough and her heart was pounding so fast that it was making her sick to her stomach and had to swallow.

"Brianna, that's you right?" She asked in pain as Kuro put another cool rag on her forehead as she was sweating just as bad as ever.

"Yes...of course...Lad-Blossom." She smiled, "I thought it would be a good idea since you were singing it outside. How did you know our Song of the Sea?" Brianna asked, happy that Blossom could recognized her.

"It was one of the songs that Mama sung. She...called it.."

"Shhhh...M'Lady, you can tell me more later. You must save your strength...for Prince Laxus...I mean Brick is here."

"He...is?" Blossom didn't wait for an answer, her eyes slowly closed as she suddenly felt tired. Brianna could hear her still breathing, Brianna removed the blood that was dipping from Blossom's nose, "Kaoru-chan, hurry up."

Buttercup made it about an hour later, her wings were freezing cold but at least they were brittle, she rushed up the steps as fast as she could.