Chapter 51

In My Mind, In Yours

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters, only my own OC's, Energy Magic, and Ideas

Slightly earlier-

"Gajeel, what of Moon's scent?" Lily called down to his Partner, their group rushing through the tunnels quickly, blowing past stray Wizards that came their way. They had just broken away from a larger battle, leaving many of them hurt in some way or other but still burning with a fire to keep pushing forward as fast as they could.

"Its gettin' stronger- I think we're almost there." Gajeel called up, red eyes trained ahead. Lily's heart sped up a little at the news, a greater sense of urgency hitting him.

"Then we need to hurry." He growled.

"That ain't all." Gajeel grumbled, looking suddenly serious. "There's somethin' else mixed in with her scent... Something dark, and it smells rank..." Lily stiffened a little. "I think its whatever the hell that ghost-chic was talking about."

"The Darkness Jynx mentioned?" Lily murmured lowly, his heart leaping a little- if it was mixed with Moon's scent, that probably meant she was close to it- even with it. And that meant she was in very serious danger, and his sense of urgency rose again.

"That's really bad..." Happy stammered, eyes wide and worried as he flew beside Lily.

"Still no sign of Frea?" Mira asked softly,

"No, we haven't seen her." Cana's voice filtered through for a moment.

"That's a good thing." Erza muttered. "Lets hope the others take care of Tomaru quickly- then we have less to worry about."

"I wonder what he meant," Mira murmured. "The Flash of Death? That Tomaru mentioned?"

"I suppose we'll find out." Erza muttered, "Gajeel. You said Moon's scent is getting stronger?"

"Yeah- it shouldn't be far now if we hurry our asses up." Gajeel called back to her,

"You also said you believe this Darkness is ahead of us as well?" She went on, earning a stiff nod. "Everyone be on your guard."

"Right!"

"Looks like we got company." Gajeel growled, suddenly skidding to a halt as they entered into a larger hall- that seemed to lead toward some heavy doors on the far side, underneath a large stone arch. The other members came to halts behind him, now facing a hall full of Dark Mages- enough to have composed a small army.

"Damn Fairy Tail idiots." A man near the front growled,

"What makes you think you can just storm in here like that?!" Another snapped angrily,

"Do you know who you're messing with?!"

Erza stepped forward, a blade Requiping into her hand as she raised it toward the lot of them, gaze hard and steely. "We are here to take a member of our Guild back from your filthy hands- and to pay the debt that is owed for the things you have done!" She growled, eyes glinting as a shadow passed over her face.

"Tell us where Moon is this instant- and let us pass. Or you shall feel our wrath, tenfold."

The Mages sweatdropped, looking angry at the threat. Most of them didn't seem deterred by it at all, and some of them just smiled.

"Hehe, who do you think you are, red-head?" The first man smirked. "You may have been able to defeat those underlings you passed on the way here- but beating us won't be so easy." His eyes gleaned in a suddenly dangerous light, a shadow falling over his features as a twisted grin spread across his face.

"And if you do get past us, Lady Lyla will destroy all of you. There won't be shred of you left for anyone to find."

Erza stiffened slightly, perking a little at the name- eyes narrowed, the rest of them seeming to wonder just who that was. The Mages before them seemed to stir slightly, all them smiling wickedly as they thought to their supposed benefactor- Lady Lyla.

"That is, if you get to her. Besides us you still got the Dark Crimson Bolt to contend with. And he's nearly at the edge as it is!" That comment earned a chorus of dark laughter ringing about the hall,

"Dark Crimson Bolt..?" Mirajane murmured, eyes narrowed and glittering.

"This is your last warning!" Erza snapped, "Will you not surrender?"

"Over your dead body sweetheart!"

Fairy Tail stiffened, the mass of Dark Wizards sweeping toward them in a blaze of various Magic. The entry hall lit up with the light of the Magics sent out, the sound of metal clashing as Erza, Lily and Gajeel crossed blades with other Wizards, the rumble of Magic hitting other blasts, or running into walls and the floor. Shouts echoed over the space as Spells were called out, others yells of pain as Fairy Tail began to fell their enemies one by one- but slower than they had been managing. The group of Wizards was exceedingly stronger than the ones they had been coming across so far- if they didn't know any better; they'd have believed the full fighting force of Death Bolt lay in that single hall.

"Keep advancing!" Erza ordered above the chaos, "These forces are here to prevent us further passage! We knew we were already close to retrieving Moon- and this confirms it!"

"Give up looking for that stupid cat!" The man from before hissed, "Lady Lyla's already done away with her- she's been made into cat food!" He grinned,

"Say that again!"

Lily's sword swiped across the floor, the force of it cutting the stone under their feet and sending the man flying across the hall- to smash into a wall with enough force to shatter it. Erza nodded to him a bit, before clashing with more Dark Mages as they advanced on her.

"Erza!"

Erza's head snapped around at the voice, expecting to see someone coming up behind her- or to catch sight of whoever had called her name, the voice was eerily familiar- but she couldn't place it just then.

Her eyes went wide, seeing as soon as she had whipped about- the visage of the hundreds of enemies about her clashing with her friends suddenly faded to dimly glowing blue, the stone Lacrima surrounding her suddenly engulfed in the blazing and burning light- a beam of light headed straight for her, just as someone stepped in between herself and the blast that would surely kill her.

A blast that... That had killed him..!

"Simon!" She gasped, seeing her lost friend fall before her- the pain and the rage and heart wrenching agony that fire though her the first time suddenly invading her being again, just as raw as it had been the first time. She felt her heart breaking in two once more, felt the tears start to flow as her blood ran cold and she felt the life of someone she had cared for deeply suddenly be extinguished right in front of her.

Her gaze snapped toward the man who had killed Simon, the man who had killed her friend- and she found cold dead eyes, blue hair, a familiar tattoo over his eye.

For a split moment in time she forgot all about where she had been. She forgot what she knew now, what had happened since this time, all of it. All that raced though her mind in that moment was heart-breaking agony and grief, and a deep, burning rage flaring up inside of her- her tears streaming from her eyes as her hold on her weapon tightened. She launched herself toward him, letting out a furious scream of rage as she swung at him with every ounce of her strength and might.

Her target met its mark, and just as it did- the all too familiar face of Jellal from that night so long ago atop the Tower of Heaven faded, and before her materialized the stricken face of Evergreen- to which she had barely managed to stop her blade barely an inch from the woman, who looked rather shaken.

"W-what the hell...?!" Evergreen stammered, stiff and not willing to move unless she somehow set Erza off.

Erza moved her sword away from Evergreen, eyes wide and sweatdropping heavily as she felt the tears fall from her eyes. The grief and pain of that night faded slowly, and she tried her best to shake off the memory- feeling her heart still breaking and blood still boiling.

"What were you doing?!" Evergreen snapped, Erza stepped away, eyes narrowing as she rubbed the tears away quickly.

"... I believe... Someone was in my head." She growled lowly,

"What?!"

"Mira...?!"

Erza's and Evergreen's head snapped around toward the disbelieving shout from Elfman, seeing now that Mira had entered her Satan Soul form- and she was heading straight toward him, eyes burning in righteous fury- her eyes not seeing him, but dulled and clouded with whatever memory that had been forced to the surface,

"Mira!" Lisanna snapped, eyes wide as she called to her older sister- who didn't seem to hear her at all. Erza swept forward, lifting her blade and meeting the claw of Mirajane's Satan Soul- the ring echoing around them as the red-head stepped between Mira and Elfman in an instant.

Mira's eyes blinked, the recognition returning in a split moment as her expression fell, as she switched from her Satan Soul, looking slightly mortified.

"E-Erza..." She stammered, "I thought... I thought you were Freed, that day of the Harvest Festival..." Her eyes flicked to Elfman, who blinked in shock.

"Someone is messing with our memories, turning us against one another." Erza muttered,

"But who...?" Elfman muttered, still a little shaken that his sister had come after him like that.

"He's here!" The Mages around them exclaimed, a sudden flurry of laughter erupting around them.

"And he's only playing with you for now!"

"Prepare for the worst hell you've ever had to experience!"

"So some bastards messin' with our heads, huh?" Gajeel growled, throwing away a row of Mages in front of him. His head snapped around toward Lily, who hadn't moved for a long few moments. "Yo, Lily! You still here?!" He asked,

Lily shook his head furiously as if to clear some haze, his grip around his sword tightening as one hand raised to place itself over his chest- the sudden agony of feeling a shot race through him in Extalia rising to the surface, though no wound existed now- he still felt the full brut of it. He hissed, body tensing at the pain.

"Yeah... I'm still here." He replied, having heard Gajeel ask him the question.

"What kind of Magic lets someone show people their memories like that? To feel everything they felt the day of those memories?" Happy mumbled, "Moon's Magic doesn't do that..."

They glanced around them, eyes narrowed as their attention snapped toward a sudden arc of black and crimson light fleeing above their heads, seemingly like some form of discolored lightning. The crowd of Mages split apart slightly, as the figure of a man appeared before them, standing with his hands over his chest and dull eyes locked on to them silently.

"Dark Crimson Bolt: Hikien!" Fairy Tail stiffened, this man was one of Tomaru's best Mages...?

Hikien sighed slightly, running a hand through his hair a bit and eyes closing. "You Fairy Tailers have been making quite a mess..." He mumbled, almost in a bored tone. "How annoying of you..." His hand fell down his face, his eyes opening as they suddenly glinted in a strange light, and his neutral expression turned into a manic grin.

"Goody that you all have such awful memories, that's what makes it fun."

"You're the man Tomaru mentioned." Evergreen grumbled.

"How dare you mess with people's memories like that?!" Erza snapped coldly, not at all happy with the man for having been forced to re-see the death of Simon, tears still pricked at the corners of her eyes.

"Oh?" Hikien murmured, "Why so cross Titania?" He grinned. "Is it because you have some of the most painful memories of all?" She stiffened slightly, "The things I could do with you..."

"Like we're gonna let ya mess with us!"

Gajeel swung his hand out toward the man, it erupting into a long lance as Hikien blinked, materializing into red and black lightning to move away. The other Dark Mages around them suddenly swarmed forward, clashing again with the other Fairy Tail Mages

"Gajeel!" Erza snapped, "Be careful! If he's been able to get into our heads so easily, he could turn you against any one of us!" She wanted,

"Don't gotta tell me that!" He snapped back, his arm elongating again as Hikien materialized back into his regular form, and moved again in a flash of black and crimson to avoid the hit. "This guy ain't gettin' in my head so easy, just worry about yourselves!" Erza nodded stiffly, eyes narrowed.

"Black Steel Gajeel, is it?" Hikien murmured, his expression suddenly very emotionless once again. Gajeel growled as he whipped about to face the man, his arm reverting back to normal for a moment. "You have done a lot of nasty things in your time... Now haven't you?" His lips pulled into a twisted grin, and Gajeel stiffened.

"Did seeing the Energy Dragon strung up like that bring back memories for you?" Hikien chuckled lowly, Gajeel's jaw clenched in anger and fury. "I bet it did... I can feel the regret and anger flowing through your mind... How did it feel? That rage, the bloodlust you felt that night?"

"You enjoyed stringing those fools up to that tree, didn't you?"

"SHUT UP!"

Gajeel's arm moved forward, transforming into a razor sharp sword as he cut through Hikien's now smokey body- a vein ticked on his forehead and red eyes blazing in rage and fury.

He ran forward, arm moving back to him as he jumped forward toward the man the instant he returned to his normal form.

"Demon Logs!" He snapped, thrusting his arm forward as dozens upon dozens of iron spearheads tore through the air toward the man, who blinked at the incoming attack.

Just as the hits were about to make contact, his body melted away into flashing black and crimson, and streamed out toward Gajeel as he skidded to a halt, sweatdropping slightly as Hikien began to return to his regular form, hands clamping down on either side of Gajeel's jaw, nails biting at his skin.

Their eyes met, seeing the dull color was starting to shine again in the other man's gaze, Gajeel stiffened at the contact.

"So much I could do with this head of yours... Its quite tempting." Hikien growled, "I could teleport it right off your shoulders... How fun would that be?"

Gajeel growled, in the next instant- Hikien was arcing over his head- his hands still clamped under his jaw, as the man flipped and sent Gajeel flying with tremendous force before he could try to retaliate. He smashed into the floor hard enough to wear a trench through it, hissing in pain as his red eyes glinted in fury, quickly climbing to his feet. Hikien landed on his feet lightly, hands in his pockets and eyes going dull again.

"You're too easy." He muttered, Gajeel growled.

"Quit playing you damned bastard!" He snapped, Hikien's head tilted just slightly, looking bored.

"But then it'd be over too quickly." He replied flatly, "And there is no fun in that." Gajeel let out a growl of anger, slamming a fist into the ground as it elongated into a club, dozens of others springing up from the ground itself where Hikien stood- the man pushed off one of them lightly, flipping backward, hands still in his pockets.

He blinked in slight shock to see Gajeel suddenly in front of him, his arm a sword and inches from himself- too close to dodge, the blade seconds away from running him through.

Suddenly Hikien melted away into a small, blue-haired Script Mage, who looked to him with wide, terror filled eyes- her hands moving up to block his incoming blow as she scrunched her eyes closed against the inevitable onslaught of pain he had heading toward her.

Gajeel stiffened, his actions faltering despite himself- and the fact he knew it was a trick. He couldn't stop himself from suddenly pulling his attack, aiming it to Levy's left so he would avoid hitting her- his heart dropped at seeing such fear on her face, and the memory of the look she had when he attacked her and her friends that night oh so long again suddenly washed over him in a powerful wave, and the guilt and regret he tried so hard to keep hidden rammed into him full force.

He couldn't ever hurt her again... He couldn't...

Almost as quickly as it had happened, Levy melted away into the twisted smile of Hikien, who was now just next to Gajeel as his momentum carried him forward past the man.

"Soft spot?" Hikien growled lowly, almost tauntingly. The man's hand swung up toward Gajeel- who immediately activated his 'Iron Scales' to lessen the damage of the blow coming his way. Hikien seemed to blink at the action, before smiling wickedly again. "That was a dumb move, Black Steel.."

Hikien's hand suddenly glowed with the dark light of black and crimson electricity bursting from his palm, Gajeel's eyes widened in slight surprise at it- before the man thrust the Lightning-encased hand into his side- immediately a torrent of electricity coursing through Gajeel's body, burning and sending waves of agony through him as his muscles twitched involuntarily, the lightning sped up by his Iron Scales. He let out a shout of pain as he was sent flying across the room, barreling through several Dark Mages around them, and hitting a wall- blood dripping from his ears, nose, mouth and the corners of his eyes, cringing and jaw clenching at the pain.

"Gajeel!" Several people yelled,

"Enough!"

Lily suddenly swooped down on Hikien, swinging his sword at the man and running straight through his body as Hikien materialized into black and crimson again. Lily glared, his expression dark and entire countenance burning in rage, his eyes set to Hikien as he came to a pause not far from him, the man's eyes settling on him silently.

"You're one of the bastards that took Moon prisoner." Lily growled, lips pulling into a snarl. He didn't need to have heard it, he simply knew it was true- he could feel it deep inside of him.

"Definitely was." Hikien replied flatly, his lips pulling into a grin- "Ooohhh... Should I show you? The fun we had with the little kitty earlier? Master Tomaru put me in charge of zapping her awake every time she passed out from the pain and the beatings." Lily's jaw clenched, fangs grinding down on each other, his grip about his sword tightening, fire raging inside of him ever brighter. "What a delightful stretch of six hours... So enjoyable to watch."

"... S... Six hours...?" Happy stammered, eyes growing wide and tearful at imagining what sort of pain could have been inflicted on Moon for such a long amount of time.

Six hours... Six hours of torture...!

Lily moved nearly too fast for Hikien to react, sweeping toward in a sudden burst of unbridled anger toward the man, swinging his sword out to catch him across the arm before he managed to fade into his smokey form and avoid the rest of the attack.

"You're gonna pay for that, bastard!" Lily snapped,

"Damn right!" Gajeel snarled, having gotten back to his feet, blood still dripping down his face but no amount of weariness in his red gaze.

"... She's already dead, you know." Hikien murmured, "The cat... Lady Lyla's been in there with her for a long while now... And she is always so very hungry."

His words made everyone stiffen, feeling a cold weight of fear drop into their stomachs as they suddenly wondered how true the mans words could be...

"You're lying." Lily growled dangerously, his eyes burning in hatred and rage.

"Oh, but I'm not." Hikien replied, his hand grasping the wound in his arm that Lily managed to inflict. "If that cat still breathes... It won't be for much longer. I can feel Lady Lyla's bloodlust rising."

Lily's eyes widened when Hikien's dark eyes suddenly flicked across the hall and the swathes of battling people toward the heavy stone arch and the doors set underneath it. His grip on his sword tightened, body tensing as he prepared to move again- sharing a small look with Gajeel, who had also noticed where Hikien's eyes had went.

Lily launched forward, but didn't go after Hikien- instead he lunged across the hall and over the heads of battling Wizards toward the heavy metal doors, behind him he could hear the beat of Happy's wings as he followed him toward the doors, seeming to sense what Lily had- that way was the way to Moon.

"Tsk, tsk... Where are you going?"

Hikien materialized in front of Lily, hand raised and palm filled with glinting black and crimson electricity. Lily stiffened, lifting his sword to strike down at Hikien instead of trying to avoid whatever hit was coming for him- Hikien melted away as Lily's blade passed through him, the man's hand darting forward to ram into his chest, a course of pain and agony sweeping through him in an instant as he was electrocuted.

"Lily!" Gajeel snapped, jumping up next to them and swinging his arm in the form of an Iron sword toward the man, causing him to back off and move away from Lily, who held a hand to his chest and teetered in air, black flitting across his vision.

"You aren't going anywhere." Hikien muttered, snapping his fingers as he landed atop the stone archway over the doors.

A great large sphere of crimson and black materialized in front of him, dropping down onto the archway with a core shaking boom. The stone crumbled and began to fall, burying the door.

Lily's eyes widened in shock and slight fear, seeing his way to Moon about to be destroyed.

"No!" Happy yelled,

Gajeel growled, launching toward Hikien in an instant and much faster than he had been- coming down on the man, his leg swinging down in the form of a club and propelling the man down into the floor hard enough to make it shake and shatter. Gajeel's crimson gaze snapped up toward Lily as he began to fall toward the ground,

"Go!" The Iron Dragon Slayer snapped, "Don't worry about this Bastard! Just go get Moon!"

Lily hesitated a small moment, before nodding, his eyes growing firm as he sped off at near top speed toward the crumbling archway- Happy on his tail.

He raised his sword, swinging down with incredible force to completely slice a piece of falling stone in two- dodging the rest of the stone falling and bursting through the small opening in the door just as it was buried completely, Happy at his shoulder as they flew into a large hallway, bordered by grand pillars and sickly glowing purple fire hanging in basins strung up from the roof.

The two tom-cats came to a halt, eyes scanning the corridor and fur standing on end at the great wash of insane power they could feel on the air, the evilness seeping into everything... The dark.

"W-what is that..?" Happy stammered, eyes wide and sweatdropping.

"It must be the Darkness Jynx spoke of." Lily murmured lowly, eyes narrowing as he too sweatdropped.

"You think its... That Lyla woman Hikien mentioned?" Happy asked uncertainly. "The one who has Moon..?"

"We must hurry." Lily said, not answering the question, and grip about his sword tightening. His eyes glanced back toward the shut doors. "We're on our own now, its up to us to rescue Moon." Happy nodded, looking frightened but determined none the less. He clenched a paw in front of him, tail swishing once.

"Aye!"


"Gajeel!" Erza called, seeing the Iron Dragon Slayer going head to head with Hikien above their heads, moving quickly and darting about- Iron and electricity clashing over and over. Her eyes grew wide to see Gajeel suddenly engulfed in the swirling black mass of shadow and crimson electricity, the expanse suddenly sweeping him up into dark nothingness and promptly disappearing completely from view.

"Gajeel!" Erza called louder, her eyes snapping back and forth trying to fond any sign of him, or Hikien.

"They disappeared..." Lisanna murmured.

"Teleportation Magic?" Mira suggested. Erza growled under her breath,

"We just lost our guide to Moon." The red-head hissed, her eyes flicking toward the fallen debris of the stone archway across the room from her. "And our path to her, it would seem."

"Lily! Happy! Can you hear me? Are you two alright?" She called through the Telepathic Link, slicing ahead of her to throw a small group of Mages away in a sudden rush of pure force of air.

"We're... Toward... Room... Link... Being... Blocked..." Lily's voice reported, fading in and out of actually being heard as some unknown Force suddenly distorted the Telepathic Link between the two tom cats and the rest of Fairy Tail. Effectively cutting them off from the rest of the Guild, and leaving everyone in the dark about what may happen- or if they would even find Moon at all.

"Damn it." Erza hissed, looking a little concerned. Very much aware that Happy and Lily were on their own not only in finding Moon, but also in facing whatever Darkness Jynx and Master alike had seemed so worried over.

"... Be careful."


"Hehe... So, my appetizers have arrived. Finally... I've been holding myself back too long."

Lily and Happy stiffened, fur bristling at the sickly sweet voice echoing out over their heads. They faced a large set of doors at the end of the long corridor, the doors swinging open on their own as they looked out into a large room filled with tables and chairs, lanterns and basins of fire strung from the roof. It could have held hundreds of people all at once... And yet it was empty.

Empty- apart from the figure of a tall, slender woman with pitch black hair and deep red eyes- smiling wickedly at them as she stood atop a small flight of steps on the opposite end of the room.

"Oh, such small and tasty looking souls..." The woman smiled, fingers tapping lightly against her lips as the light of hunger made its way into her red eyes. Her eyes swept over Lily, and landed on Happy- who froze under her stare, sweatdropping heavily as shivers ran up his spine.

"Its the blue fluff-ball... How many times I've imagined eating you..." She smiled, Happy shivered.

"Wha... What...?" He stammered, looking a little confused. She acted like they had met before...

"... Tch... Be prepared." Lily growled, growing rigid. "The power coming from this woman... Its insane..." And it was. It was as if he power had taken hold of the air itself, making it feel heavy, and their fur stand on end despite themselves, ears twitching at some sort of current of strength pricking at the air. The space seemed to grow colder, and darker around them... She was radiating pure, insane power... And pure blood-lust. Malicious intent so deep, they hardly believed she was... Human.

Happy nodded slightly, "This is her huh...?" He mumbled. "Lyla. The one all those other Mages were talking about...?"

"It seems that way." Lily replied, eyes narrowing as he quickly searched the room for any sign of Moon. His eyes glinted slightly as his gaze passed over the strange woman, seeing the small flicker of light bouncing from a length of metal chains wrapped about her arm.

"Are you two looking for this?" Lyla smiled, her grin twisted and eyes dark as she suddenly lift her arm from behind her back a little- the sound of chains clinking together filled the air as their hearts dropped into the pits of their stomachs.

"M-Moon!" Happy gasped, eyes wide and trembling- a look of utter horror passing over both his and Lily's faces.

"You... How dare you?!" Lily snarled,

Lyla held Moon up by the collar around her neck, the she-cat was broken and bloody, more crimson stained her fur than her natural gray coat shown through. Slashes and cuts ran across her body, some of them still bleeding freshly, bruises littered every inch of her. She was beaten too no end, wounded and burned and stabbed and cut... she looked nearly dead... And she wasn't moving, for all they knew she could...

They felt terror run through their hearts, they couldn't even begin to imagine the torture Moon must have endured to look like that, and then they felt anger bubbling inside of them.

How dare they do that to Moon?!

Lyla's fingers gripped about the collar around Moon's neck, the chains unraveling from around her arm as she lift the unmoving she-cat before her, eyes glinting in malice.

"I kept myself busy by playing with dear Moony here." Lyla chuckled, before promptly tossing Moon away like a rag doll, the Exceed smashing onto the floor with a sickening thud and rolling away, a small moan escaping her though she didn't move nor open her eyes. Lily and Happy stiffened at the action, Lily's grip about his sword tightened as his eyes began to burn in pure and utter rage.

"Moon...!" Happy gasped, trying to see if she could even hear them anymore. He flew forward, against Lily's warning as he dropped down next to Moon, his paws trembling as he shook her slightly, eyes wide and tearful. "M-moon...? Hey... Moon, please... Wake up..." He didn't get a response.

Lyla hardly glanced Happy's way as he moved, her attention was fixed to Lily's suddenly enraged expression.

"You're going to pay for what you've done!" Lily snapped coldly, "How dare you hurt our friend like that?! You won't be getting away with your brutality, I'll make you pay tenfold for the things you've done to Moon, you're never going to hurt anyone ever again!"

"I invite you to try, my tasty little snack." Lyla replied easily, her arms opening up as she invited him to come at her, not at all bothered by the sheer and utter rage flaring inside of the black tomcat. "After I devour your souls, I'll be moving on to eat the rest of your Fairy Friends... I have been waiting so long for this day after all." Her smile faded, lips pulling into a twisted and devilish smirk, a shadow passing over her gaze as her body suddenly engulfed in waves of pure black.

"Just don't forget who you're talking to, you little brat." Lyla growled dangerously low. "No mortal has ever destroyed me, and no mortal ever will."

Lily stiffened, feeling her power increase tenfold and ram into him in chilling, core rattling waves.

... That look... What is this woman...?

"Hehe... I'm gonna eat you all." Her voice became... Not her own for a moment, it was louder, lower, echoing even... As if she was some creature and not a girl at all. Her fingernails grew longer and sharpened, her teeth sharpening and growing into fangs, pupils turning cat like, as the shadowy Magic around her person moved, shaping itself into some colossal, giant beast.

"... N...no way..." Happy stammered, looking terrified. Lily's attention snapped toward him, seeing the haunted look pass across the blue tomcat's face. "T.. That... That can't be right... She... She was... Killed...!" Lily stiffened, sweatdropping a little, as Lyla glanced sideways at the blue Exceed, grinning darkly.

"... Frea... And... And Winter... They... They beat you..!" Happy argued in a shaky, horrified mew. Lily went still, eyes widening at the pair of names he heard mentioned few times before- and never in a good context.

"As if those cowards could kill me." Lyla grinned, or was it really right to call her Lyla?

"Even a fusion of Energy and Light can't destroy me. Nothing can." She hissed, Lily sweatdropped, feeling a sense of dread creeping over his heart.

"You mean to say, that you are...?!" Lily hissed, ears pressing against his head.

Her blood red gaze moved to land on him, a wicked smile pulling at her lips, her fangs poking from under them and the pitch black about her body growing ever thicker, the visage of the beast amongst the Magic suddenly growing larger as her Magic Power increased exponentially, it was so potent, choking...

"Different body, different looks, but same old me... Same Power..." She smiled evilly, "Same hunger... You Fairy Fools are about to realize your mistake. You're all in my domain now, you're going to die." Her eyes hardened, glinting in blood list unlike any other.

"But I think I'm going to play with you first, hehe..."

"... Its... Really her...?" Happy stammered, tears pecking at the corners of his eyes.

"... Shadow. The Dark Demon once inside of Frea..." Lily grumbled, feeling a sudden flurry of worry inside of him. Frea's words came rushing back to him then,

'I don't really remember a lot about it... But I do remember getting really mad, and then everything went dark. I woke up at the Guild, and half of Magnolia was destroyed. More than half of the Guild was hurt too... From what I figured out, I had changed into Shadow and gone on a rampage, destroying and hurting everything and everyone in her path. They couldn't stop her for a very long time, and in the end it took the efforts of Erza, Mira, Master and Gildarts to stop her.'

Shadow had managed to destroy the Guild, and half of Magnolia.

It had taken the efforts of the Guild's Master and a good portion of its S-Class to stop this Demon all those years ago... And even at the time, Frea had been keeping her at bay. He couldn't imagine Shadow had been at full power during the time she was a part of Frea, simply because he knew the Energy Dragon Slayer must have been actively keeping the Dark Demon under lock and key.

But now... Shadow didn't seem like she was being kept under the hold of someone else. That Demon was in full control, and at full power... If Master as the Guild's S-Class had taken hours to stop Shadow when she had been weakened... What were the chances he could contend with such insane, dark Power now that Shadow was at full strength? When the combined force of Frea and Winter- a Demon herself- hadn't been able to destroy Shadow at all?

After hearing of Shadow, he had been very glad he had never met her... And now, he was facing her. She had her sights set on him, and he was alone.

Jynx had said there was a large likelihood that the people in the Guild may die, when face to face with the Darkness she had mentioned... He realized only now how very true her words were.

He faintly wondered if the Guild could hear what was being said, that they were aware that Shadow was alive- that she had survived and was in Death Bolt... But the Telepathic Link was still being blocked, and he realized immediately it was probably Shadow (or Lyla?) that was causing it to not work.

He stiffened, his features pulling into a deep frown as he readied himself, raising his sword as his steely gaze resting on her steadily. He refused to show his fear, and he wasn't about to back down. He meant what he said when he told her he would make her pay for what she had done to Moon. He couldn't let such a thing pass, such brutality and sheer torture that had been inflicted on Moon... It was unspeakable, and it lit a raging fire inside of him that no fear or worry over his opponent could quell. He may very well know how whole-heartedly outmatched he was against Shadow... But he would do everything to defeat her. To repay the damage and suffering that Moon had endured, and to make sure that she couldn't do anything like this again- ever.

His chances were slim, but he hardly cared. His emotions burned too brightly, too powerfully to back down or be concerned with his chances.

He wondered if this was what the Power of Emotions felt like...

"You aren't getting away with this." He snarled, "You need to be stopped, and I'm going to stop you."

"Such bravado." Shadow chuckled lowly. "What are you gonna do, with only that little blade?"

Happy stared, shaking slightly as his gaze rest on Lily and the utterly resolute expression on his face. The anger and the rage... He couldn't remember the last time he had seen Lily looking so angry, or determined. It shocked him when he couldn't seen any shred of fear in Lily's eyes, despite his opponent, despite the very real danger, and despite what he had already seen of what Shadow could do.

Lily must have heard of Shadow from the Guild, and maybe even from Frea. Even if he had never met her before this instant, he must know how powerful she really was... And still he wasn't going to back down, nor give in. Lily was intent on paying her back for the pain and suffering Moon had endured, he would repay tenfold for the state Moon was in now. Happy blinked, Lily was so angry... Because he cared for Moon and her safety. They were Family after all... Happy blinked the tears away, forcing himself to stop shaking as he steeled himself against his own fear.

Lily had the right idea, they couldn't back down- not even against Shadow. And the suffering Moon had endured, that couldn't go unpunished.

"You can do it, Lily!" Happy said suddenly, voice firm and eyes filled with determination. He may be useless in a physical fight, he knew- but he had faith in Lily, and his feelings. "You give her everything you've got, I believe you can do it!" Lily glanced to him momentarily, nodding once, firmly. "I'll look after Moon- you focus on beating her!"

"Right!"

"You're both full of such bravado suddenly." Shadow chuckled lowly, "What are two little kitty's gonna do against me? The most powerful Demon you've ever laid eyes on?"

"You know- I was one of the first Demon's Zeref ever created. I've been on this earth for centuries, and in all that time I've only ever gotten stronger." She went on, "I'm immortal you fools, you can't kill me. Its impossible." Lily stiffened,

"Its not impossible."

Shadow stiffened, her red eyes narrowing as a flash of dark purple appeared beside Lily, and Jynx appeared- her own red gaze settled on Shadow, her expression neutral but eyes burning in fury and hatred. Lily blinked in surprise at her sudden arrival, and in shock at such a hateful look on her face.

Shadow frowned, growling lowly. "You..." She muttered,

"Even the darkest evils can be overcome, the seemingly impossible can be proven false. Being a Demon of Zeref, many would believe you can only be destroyed at his hands." Jynx's gaze grew flinty, "That is a lie. Demons are living creatures, no matter how strong. And all living things can die... Even you. I have proven such a thing before." Shadow sweatdropped slightly, looking agitated.

"You're just a damn puff of smoke." Shadow snarled, "You may have managed to destroy one of us before, but you can't do a damn thing now!"

"I can't." Jynx agreed lowly, Shadow smirked a little. "But he can." Jynx gestured toward Lily, Shadow frowned deeply.

Jynx's eyes flashed, an odd and ancient light seeming to light in them. Something powerful... Something dangerous appeared in her eyes for a moment, and for a small second, everyone in the room tensed at the unknown look- their skin crawling.

"And there are hundreds of Spirits here who are more than happy to lend their power in effort to destroy you."

There suddenly arose a powerful wind that swept through the room, buffeting them as tables and chairs were sent flying at the unexpected force. The air shook with hundreds of whispered and rising voices, whose words remained unintelligible- but it was clear they were very, very angry. They felt a chill fall over them, body's growing rigid at the ethereal noise and sudden flux of power that came with it.

Shadow stiffened visibly, her red eyes moving around the room quickly, fangs bared and tense. Lily and Happy stared with wide eyes around them, before they looked to Jynx and the murderous glare on her face.

"PantherLily, I have little power in this form- but I will help to give you the power these souls hold." Jynx said suddenly, catching Lily off guard as he stared. The murderous look on her face faded, instead she just looked cold and angry. "You must do all that you can to destroy this Demon, do you understand? If not for the sake of the innocent, or the balance of good and evil... Do it for the reasons you already gave." She blinked and he gazed at her steadily.

"Do it for your Family."

Lily nodded firmly, "Understood." He replied stonily, and Jynx let her eyes fall. Her hand suddenly lift toward him, her middle and index finger pressed together.

There blazed a dark purple mark on his shoulder suddenly, a crescent moon symbol that matched the one that appeared over her eye. He tensed slightly at it, her eyes opening as she gazed not at him, but at the deadly stare on Shadow's face- the voices around them still raging and shaking the air in a roar.

And then suddenly he felt unimaginable power begin to flow into his very being, cold and yet burning so brightly... It was utterly powerful, and he could only describe it as true and utter anger. Deep set anger.

"There is true power in this. And even more so in your own heart." Jynx murmured lowly, her hand falling. "Strike hard, and strike fast. This extra power will not last forever." He lift his blade again, Magic glinting along the swords edge. Shadow stiffened, looking increasingly outraged.

"How dare you, you little witch?!" Shadow snarled,

"Focus on me!" Lily snarled back, suddenly launching forward at an insane speed- his sword cutting through the air with a whistle as he swung down toward Shadow.

She lift her hands toward him, a rush of pitch black steaming toward him as he sliced his sword straight through it- the shadows destroyed as a powerful wave of force sent Shadow flying back into a wall, her face pulled into the utmost rage- the voices falling silent as the air rushing up from Lily's attack buffeting Happy and Moon.

"Woah!" Happy breathed, eyes wide. "He sliced right through it!" He clenched a paw, smirking slightly. Happy got to his paws, gently picking Moon up and flying farther away from the two, eyes humming in sudden hope.

Lily could do this!

Jynx faded from sight, the purple crescent moon mark on Lily's shoulder still glowing slightly.

Shadow moved away from the wall, about her feet swirling her Magic as she skidded toward the center of the room, eyes burning in fury. Lily swung around, face still pulled into a snarl- nearly as potent as the one on Shadow's face.

"You little brat..." Shadow hissed,

"For the pain you caused Moon..." Lily growled, "For her suffering... You're going to feel the full wrath of the Guild! And my full wrath!"

Lily leapt forward, clashing against Shadow as they moved around the room in a large blur, the walls being destroyed, the ground shattering- blows and Magic sent around as they went toe to toe in utter and insane fury, power, and speed.

Happy backed off as far as he could, settling down and holding Moon's limp form to him, eyes wide as he watched the showdown and the sudden clashing of two insanely powerful opponents. Lily had never been so strong before... As now driven by the Power Jynx said she would be lending him, and his own emotion... He was amazing.

"... H... Happy...?"

Happy's attention snapped away from the battle at the weak, and barely audible voice. His eyes went wide to see Moon's eyes cracked open slightly, unfocused and groggy as she looked up at him, trying to get a better look.

"Moon...!" He said quickly, letting her sit down and lean against the wall behind them- ever aware of where Shadow and Lily were battling in the room. Moon moaned at being moved, small tears pricking at her tired eyes as she winced harshly. His eyes shone in sudden relief that she woke up, and then worry when he saw her pain.

"W... Wha...t...?" She hissed, barely able to get the words out.

"Its ok, Moon. The Guild's here to rescue you." He assured quickly, his voice gentle. Her eyes fluttered, opening a little more and filling in unbearable pain... And fear. There wasn't even a slight glint of hope, or relief at his words that the Guild had come to get her.

"... W... Wait... Ly... Lyla... Sh... She's... You... Guys... You're... In... Danger...!" Moon gasped painfully, nearly frantically. "... She... She's...!"

Happy shook his head a little, laying a paw on her shoulder to try and get her to stop talking. "We know... We know its Shadow." He said, seeing the she-cat's eyes light up in fear at the name. He clenched a paw in front of him, putting on a determined smile that he hoped would reassure her. "Don't worry Moon, we're going to get you out of here. We won't let ourselves get beaten- we're gonna make these guys pay for what they did to you!" He grinned a little more, seeing a small flash of appreciation appear across her face a moment. "Lily's fighting Shadow, and he can win! Don't you doubt it!"

Her eyes narrowed in slight confusion, "... Lily...?" She breathed, and he nodded- stepping aside enough to let her see past him and toward the center of the room- where Lily was still going head to head with a very furious looking Shadow. For a minute she looked shocked, and then maybe a little relived... Before fear sank in again, and concern glinted in her gaze.

Moon's thoughts were racing, all of them blurred and indiscernible in her pain and weakness... But slowly, very slowly her thoughts and her grip on reality was coming back to her, and she was more able to focus on what was going on around her. In her blurred and unfocused vision she saw Lily facing Lyla with more ferocity and strength, speed and power than she had ever seen him have. She saw the rage on his face, and the purpose he seemed to hold when he swung out at his opponent.

She felt a little relief in knowing the Guild had found her, and now that she was with Happy and Lyla's attention had turned away from her- but then she felt fear grip at her heart again.

Lyla- or rather, Shadow- she was an enemy unlike any other, and she hated to think what may happen to Lily as he fought with her. She didn't want to doubt in Lily's strength or power... But she couldn't help herself. Shadow was just that dangerous... Just that powerful.

In her years in Death Bolt, Moon had never seen Lyla lose at anything. She had seen her destroy enemies with little effort- her power was off the charts, her strength immeasurable... And now it all made sense as to why. Lyla had never lost a battle, and the losers... She felt an icy chill fall over her at the thought.

Moon hissed, eyes scrunching closed as she did her best to try and move, lifting a heavily bleeding arm and paw closing around the collar about her neck. She didn't want to just sit there, helpless. But moving was agony and she was having a hard time doing it at all.

"Don't try to move too much, Moon!" Happy said urgently, seeing the pain flash across her features, his heart leaping at the blood and the wounds again. "You're really hurt, please just stay still..!"

"... Take..." Moon hissed, coughing a little at how rough and hoarse her voice was at all the yelling she had been doing in her torture. She caught her breath, her blue eyes glittering in weariness and pain as she settled Happy with a surprisingly firm look- he blinked in shock, he hadn't thought she could look so... Well put together, at least mentally, after the ordeal she must have been put through. But his heart ached at seeing the tears in the corners of her eyes,

"Get this damn... Collar off of me.." She growled, the metal chains about her bloodied wrists clinking softly. "And these too." She grumbled, tail tip flicking toward the chains. He faltered a moment, shocked at how commanding her tone was... And how bright the fire in her eyes seemed to burn still, even through her pain and suffering.

"... Ok." He replied, "I'll try." He promised, she winced harshly as her paw fell away from holding the collar, her body shaking at the effort of moving at all. He was very shocked she was managing to stay awake...

"... Where is... Everyone else...?" She asked slowly, her eyes falling closed a moment as he began to tinker with the chains and the collar, eyes narrowed in concentration.

"... The door got blocked. Lily and I are the only ones who made it in here. Everyone else is still fighting the rest of Death Bolt elsewhere." Happy replied,

"... And... Tomaru...? And Hikein...?" Moon whispered, ears pressing against her head. She knew the power of the both of them... She knew Death Bolts power, and they were strong... But it was Lyla, Tomaru and Hikien she was worried about Fairy Tail having to face.

After all... It was Tomaru who... Who killed... Frea...

Her tears spilled over and down her cheeks at the thought, despite how hard she tried to stop them. She bit her lip at the sharp pang of sadness that swept through her heart at the thought, that itself was more painful than the beatings and the torture she had had to face.

Happy paused in his work, eyes widening and ears falling at seeing her tears flowing. He had never seen Moon cry before, and he honestly had never wanted to.. Granted, he'd never seen her beaten and wounded so badly either. The things that Death Bolt and Shadow must have done to her... He shuddered at the thought, and his heart clenched painfully.

She looked... Broken.

"... When we left, Gajeel was fighting against Hikien." He replied. "He's with Erza, Mira and a bunch of others in the Guild... And Natsu, Gray, Lucy, Chase, Aisha, Solana and Juvia are fighting Tomaru, as far as I know." Moon's eyes opened to settle on him, glinting slightly. "I don't know what's going on now... The Telepathic Link isn't working for some reason... We're cut off from the rest of the Guild."

"... And... As far as you know... Everyone's... Ok..?" She asked slowly, suddenly looking rather concerned for the Guild- he blinked in shock. How could she be worried about everyone else, as wounded and hurt as she was herself?

"... Yeah, I think so." He said, and she looked away, her eyes fixing toward Lily.

"... I... I'm sorry for all this..."

Happy blinked in utter shock, his head snapping up toward her as he heard the words, jaw dropping a little.

"Why... Why are you sorry?" He asked, seeing her eyes close again and her paws clenched.

"I got you all.. Dragged into this mess..." She growled, shaking a little. "... This was my problem... Tomaru was after me... And now... Now the Guild, and Frea..."

"Don't say that!" Happy said hotly, tail lashing a little as small tears pricked at his eyes upon seeing Moon so beaten up and genuinely sorry for all of it. She sounded guilty, and pained, and scared... And he hated it.

"None of this is your fault Moon! Just because the big old meanies came after you, and now the Guild's fighting them- its not your fault!" She retorted, sounding a little angry, and he was. "They hurt you, they hurt you really bad! You're Fairy Tail, Moon, and we protect our Family no matter what! We fight for our Family no matter what! We wouldn't ever let these guys get away with all the awful and horrible things they've done to you- ever! The Guild is here and fighting because we want to- because we want to payback all the had things they've done! This isn't your fault, don't think that!" She blinked at him, her tears still running down her cheeks steadily.

"The Guild can handle these guys! Shadow, Tomaru, all of them! We aren't losing!" Happy said firmly, "Lily can do this, we're gonna beat Death Bolt, and we're gonna beat Shadow- and then we're all going home. Believe that." She could only stare, she'd never seen Happy looking so resolute before...

"Prepare to have all the pain and suffering you've inflicted on Moon he sent back at you!" Her attention snapped away toward Lily's yell of pure anger, seeing the black tomcat with his word raised above Lyla's head- Magic swirling about the sword and wind picking up inside the room at the sheer power of it.

"Try your best you little pest!" Shadow snarled, her arms raising as a wave of pitch black streamed toward him. Lily sliced his sword through the Magic, only to be hit square on by an insanely powerful ball of jet black that slammed into his body- exploding on contact and sending him flying, where he smashed into a wall, coughing in pain.

Moon's eyes grew wide in horror, seeing that during his fighting Lily had been taking hits- he was bruised and bloody. He looked ragged, though he still kept on. The orb of black he had been hit with left an angry red mark across his body, dripping slowly with blood- it was no surprise he was getting injured fighting Shadow. But he didn't seem to be slowing down, he just kept going- but seeing him getting hurt made Moon's fear rise anew, and her tears flowed faster again as a look of horror appeared across her face.

She couldn't bear the thought of people getting hurt on her part, even dying. After what happened with Frea, she wasn't sure her broken and shattered heart could take it- and it hurt all the more seeing Lily being hurt.

"Lily!" She yelled without even thinking about it, her terrified shout echoing across the room and immediately catching the tomcat's attention. Happy had looked up when Lily had been hit, eyes glinting in worry.

"Are you alright?!" Happy called quickly, while Lily's gaze remained fixed to Moon- looking shocked and completely dumbfounded.

"Moon..." Lily breathed, eyes wide and sweatdropping heavily as he saw the tears sparkling in her eyes, and the look of horror on her face. He saw her pain, the extent to which she was injured- how broken and beaten she was... In her eyes he saw terror, and a haunted shadow in her eyes he had seen several times before now. It was a look of haunting, of hurting he had seen pass over her face at times when she fell silent, or when she was alone in the Guild. It was the same look that had made him wonder what had happened to her in her past.. Because he had seen how much it hurt her, how haunted she was of it- and now he knew why she had that look. And the reality was horrifying, it was awful- and he wished more than anything now that he knew, that she had never had to live through all that suffering back then. And he hated it all the more that she was reliving it again now.

He saw in her eyes, on her face... She was seeing all that pain and suffering she had lived through happen again, and it terrified her more than anything. She was seeing people hurt and wounded, while she was powerless to do anything... And it horrified her.

She... She's been hurting so much... All this time...

Moon... She's... Crying...

Inside of him a new fire began to burn, and he suddenly realized- he never wanted to see that look on her face ever again. Never again.

She didn't deserve all the pain and the suffering she's had in her life!

She was so hurt and broken on the inside... How... How had she managed to smile? To laugh and to love? How could someone who had gone through any of that manage to... Manage to trust in other people? To live and work and remain in Fairy Tail, to be happy and be strong against everything haunting her from her past?

He'd never realized... But Moon was much stronger than people gave her credit for. Not with her Magic, or her knowledge... In her heart and in her mind, she was probably stronger than any of them.

His gaze ripped away from hers toward the blood red eyes of Shadow, and her snarl she had set on him. Maybe it was foolish to think he had a chance against her... As it stood he had barely scratched her, and she was dealing him more than a few wounds. And, he was already tired and frayed from all the fighting he had been doing to get to this point.

But hell if he was going to lose to that Demon... Not after seeing Moon looking so... So horrified.

"Oh?" Shadow grumbled, seeing more rage and a newfound sense of determination appear on his face. "What's the face for? You realize you can't win?" She smirked darkly, "Or did seeing little old Moony cry make you angry? I'll be sure to give her more reasons to cry."

"You will not!" Lily snapped, "I will not let you put her or anyone through any more pain and suffering ever again!" Shadow growled slightly as Lily came at her again, Magic blazing alongside his newfound anger. "Moon has held on to the pain and the suffering she's felt for years! She's lived with her past haunting her, following her like a shadow- and now its hanging over her head again! You've brought back all those painful memories for her, and added more! No one deserves the terror and the pain you have caused, ever! Especially not someone as kind and brave as she is- not someone who has stayed so strong after everything you put her through!" He swung his sword out in front of him, the wave of pure force that spiraled from it sent Shadow skidding backward as she tried to block it.

Lily was in front of her in an instant, the butt of his sword slamming into her side as she manifested a wave of black Magic to counteract it, her red eyes locking with his furious orange ones.

"I will not allow you to cause her anymore pain than you already have! For the suffering she's endured because of you- you will never leave this place alive! I will repay every pain you have given her, and make sure she never has a reason to cry because of you and your wickedness- ever again!"

Lily's leg swung around to catch Shadow, sending her crashing away into the tables still left in the room-she let out a small hiss of pain as she flipped in mid air, hand slamming down on one of the tables and righting herself again.

Moon watched in awe, eyes wide and completely taken off guard by Lily's words... But his rage and pure emotion. It shocked her to hear him say any of that, she hadn't realized he had thought so much of her- nor cared so much about how she felt, about how she suffered. She remembered it was Lily who had prompted her about her past before now, and told her that if she ever needed to talk, that he'd be willing to listen.

He had also at the time, admitted he was concerned with how she felt... She just hadn't realized how much he meant by that until this moment. She had never seen him like this.. So angry and driven, so sincere... She blushed faintly, her heart skipping a beat.

To think, she had started out disliking Lily for his ties to Extalia...

Shadow held her arms out to her sides, fingers curling over her palms as the black engulfing her figure flared bigger and stronger than ever before, the sheer immensity of her power making the air shake.

"Tch... You don't have a chance at beating me, you little pest." Shadow hissed lowly, "I haven't even begun to show you my power... And I've had my fill of your yapping."

Her body began to change, her bones moving and snapping under her skin as she was engulfed in complete shadow- her form suddenly shifting to a gigantic beast. She took the form of a gigantic jet black wolf with two tails, her fangs wickedly sharp and claws tearing into the stone floor as if it was butter.

Moon stared in utter shock, beside her Happy shuddered. Lily stood his ground, tensing as he prepared for her to make her move.

"You say you won't let Moony cry anymore?!" The beast growled, her hot breath shaking the air as shadows wrapped about her massive form, shredding the ground apart and lashing deep scores into the walls. "I'll give her plenty to cry about! She'll be balling her damned eyes out once I kill you!" Moon stiffened, a pang of fear tearing at her heart.

"When I'm done with you pests, I'm gonna devour the whole of you Fairy Fools!" Her voice rose, pounding at their ears and shaking the walls and the floor around them.

The entirety of Death Bolt's underground headquarters began to shake violently around the rest of those fighting in other areas, all of them sweatdropping at the quaking under their feet and eyes darting about in sudden worry.

Shadow lunged at Lily, jaws snapping as he swung his sword toward her, slicing her nose open- but it only made her the more angry. One of her tails swung around and rammed into Lily's body, sending him crashing into a wall as he coughed out. Moon heart leapt, body trembling at the scene.

".. Lily...!" She hissed, sweatdropping heavily. Her eyes snapped to Haply, who was shaking in sudden fear and apprehension. "Happy! Get these off already!" She snapped, gesturing to the chains and collar he was still working on.

"Y-yeah...!"

Lily winced, flying up into the air and slamming the edge of his sword into Shadow's side- only for the blade to he stopped by the Magic streaming around her. Nearly immediately that same Magic spiraled toward him and began cutting at him like dozens of sharp knives. He swung his sword out to try and counteract the Shadow Magic, his skin being cut and running red as he was wounded dozens of times over in seconds.

Shadow's body whipped about, slamming into Lily with bone crushing force- he hit the ground and skid backward, wearing a small trench into it, and yelling out in pain. He thrust the top of his sword into the stone under paw, struggling to get back to his feet- red running into his vision from a deep gash across the upper part of his face. With the change in her form, and the insane increase of her power- Lily was losing ground in seconds, even despite the exponential strength flowing into his body from the glowing purple mark Jynx had placed on him.

Moon could feel her heart thumping in her chest, fear coursing through her veins at the scene. At this rate, she wasn't sure Lily could hold out much longer- at this rate... Shadow was going to kill him! Her teeth gritted, ears falling against her head and paws clenching.

Nobody else... Nobody else can die for me!

"Where is all the determination now?!" Shadow snarled, "All that bravado?! Better get ready to die, you damned cat! I've had enough of you!" Her jaws parted into an animalistic, sadistic smile. "But you don't get to die quickly, what would be the fun in that?"

"Lily!" Happy and Moon shouted.

Shadow's jaws opened as she lunged forward, her wickedly sharp teeth clamping down onto Lily's body with a sickening SNAP. He yelled in pure agony, her teeth puncturing his chest and stomach as she held him in her jaws. She shook him a little, his hands pushing against her lips and teeth as his jaw tightened in pure pain- before Shadow threw him away with incredible force.

Lily slammed into the hard stone floor hard enough to shatter it, yelling out in pain as he bounced a few times, leaving smears of red behind him. His sword clattered away from him, and he shifted from his Battle Form unwillingly. He curled in on himself as he lay on the floor, paws pressing against the deep puncture wounds, a pool of scarlet forming about his trembling body, a stream of the crimson liquid falling from the edge of his lips.

"You're an idiot, you damned cat." Shadow growled lowly, her Magic streaming up around her in waves. "You never stood a chance at beating me- even with that witch helping you. Now I'm gonna make Moony watch as I torture you, long and slow." Her head raised, tails flicking behind her rapidly as her Magic suddenly swirled into hundreds of sharp, powerful streams- all pointed toward him. Lily hissed, trying to move but his body only trembled, too weak and too wounded to move at all.

Clink...

The collar and the chains about Moon's person crumpled to the ground, Happy finally managing to get them to unlock- now they stood in shocked, terrified silence. They shook all over, horrified faces and gasping in panic.

"L-lily...!" Happy gasped, Moon's ears pressed against her head. She was on her knees now, pushing herself to her feet and swaying dangerously- her mind racing and heart falling into the pits of her stomach. Shadow was going to torture Lily... She had already hurt him so bad, he couldn't even get up. He was fighting to protect her, to repay all the pain she had suffered through... He... He was going to die, trying to save her.

I... Can't let anybody else die for me! Not like Frea! I can't let Lily die!

"A hundred fold, Piercing Shadows!" The Magic around Shadow suddenly streamed out toward Lily at terrifying speed. He stiffened, teeth gritted and ears present against his head as he prepared for the world of pain about to be inflicted on him, fists clenching as he hung his head.

"Damn it..." He hissed, he was failing, he was losing... He was so damned pathetic...!

"LILY!"

His eyes snapped open, sweatdropping heavily and eyes growing wide in horror as Moon suddenly appeared between himself and the onslaught of Shadow Magic coming toward him. Time itself seemed to slow down as he watched on helplessly, seeing the attacks nearing her as she faced them, her paws held out on either side of her, pale blue eyes glinting in fear and steadfast determination.

"What are you doing?!" He yelled, his heart plummeting. "You can't! Those attacks will kill you! Moon!"

"Nobody else is going to die for me!" She snapped back, her voice resolute, and so strong and firm it caught him off guard. Despite how wounded she was, despite how much pain she was in and how hard it was to move at all- still she had planted herself in front of him like a shield without any hesitation.

"No one is dying for me! Not ever again!"


The cool air rushed past them as rain buffeted them on all sides; their hasty movement not at all deterred by the drenching they were receiving- eyes narrowed against the onslaught of wind and rain. They flew forward at a speedy pace- much faster than they usually would go, the land rushing by below them in a gray and brown blur.

"I hate rain..." Uno grumbled as she held on to Frea, blinking the rainwater from her eyes continually.

"... Deal with it." Iki replied, though he looked nearly as unhappy as his sibling did- his paws holding on to Laxus firmly.

"It isn't good to be getting soaked. We could catch cold." Carla huffed, sweatdropping a little.

"Catching a cold is the least of our worries I think..." Wendy mumbled, her eyes glinting slightly as she glanced toward the unusually silent Frea. The Energy Dragon Slayers eyes were narrowed into slits, face pulled into a tense frown as she looked on straight ahead. Frea hadn't said much since they left the Guild, and to Wendy... It seemed as if she was focusing on something.

The small Dragon Slayer glanced away from Frea uncertainly, sweatdropping slightly. There were several things worrying her about this plan... But there was something in particular that kept nagging at her. Something she really didn't get.

"Yes, I understand that feeling- a lot better than you can imagine. Not only can I feel it from the both of you... I've felt it before myself."

When she had been speaking about the feeling, the love that siblings could feel... Frea looked so sad. Like she was remembering something painful, and it hadn't gone past Wendy how quickly Frea had mulled past the subject. What on earth did she mean by that? How could Frea have felt such a thing like that before...? As far as Wendy and the others knew...

"... Frea." Wendy murmured, deciding it best to just ask. Frea blinked, glancing her way momentarily.

"Hmm?" She hummed lowly, looking a little tired for a moment, before her gaze just glittered in tenseness.

"When you were talking about that feeling, that siblings feel for one another... You mentioned you'd felt it before. And you... You looked like you really understood it, as more than just a concept." Wendy murmured softly, Frea's gaze moved away from her and ahead again, glittering slightly. Iki, Uno and Carla exchanged quick glances between them, while Laxus' eyes narrowed as he glanced back toward Frea and the suddenly... Somber expression on her face. He had been wondering the same thing that Wendy had, though he wouldn't have asked. He wasn't sure Frea wanted to talk about it, and from past experience- he had learned Frea didn't tell people things unless she wanted to. "Its just... Well... How do you...? I don't understand.. Sorry..."

Frea sighed slightly, sweatdropping a little- she felt her heart clench a little but ignored it. For a moment she looked suddenly exhausted, and even more somber than before. Her eyes glittered in hundreds of different emotions that couldn't begin to be placed... But some of them were clear. Pain, sadness... And euphoria. In her eyes were swimming long forgotten and suppressed memories she had kept hidden for so long.

"... you don't need to apologize. Its a valid question, and I understand why you're confused." Frea replied softly, still not looking at any of them- though she was fully aware she had their complete attention now. Her confusion, all of their confusion for what it was she said... She understood that too.

I never told the Guild I suppose... She sweatdropped slightly, there were plenty of things she'd never told the Guild. And many of them for good reason.

She smiled softly, a little sadly as her eyes closed. "... I did have an older brother, a long time ago..." She murmured softly, her words caught everyone off total guard. As it should. Laxus' eyes widened, sweatdropping a little and eyes glued to her and the sad, weak smile on her face- the swath of painful and happy memories that were suddenly swimming in her eyes again, immediately he understood what that look was, and he was shocked.

Frea had never once mentioned any family outside of her Dragon, not in all the years she had been in the Guild- not in all the time Laxus had known her. In all reality- as he had since long ago taken notice of- Frea's past, and her time before Fairy Tail had always remained hidden in shadow. She never talked about it, she never went into any of it. He had always assumed she didn't like to think back on her time with Kasumi, for obvious reasons... But she seldom mentioned her time with her Dragon. And then he realized what he hadn't before- that Frea must have had a past, maybe even a family before she ever met her Dragon at all.

Frea had a foster mother in her Dragon... But what about her true parents? Who was Frea before her Dragon, before being taught Dragon Slaying Magic? No one had ever asked... And many of them hadn't even realized that so basic a thought... That Frea had family that no one knew of. And now that was clear... Because she admitted she had an older brother,

Laxus stiffened slightly, eyes narrowing and sweatdropping- but even with that life she'd had in the past many people hadn't even considered Frea to have, it was clear that this brother she had... was long gone. That look of sadness on her face said all he needed to know, and maybe it wasn't so hard to understand why she had never mentioned such a thing to the Guild at all.

His eyes narrowed slightly, suddenly realizing that the lack of explanation for her past before her Dragon... Frea shared that with all the other First Generation Dragon Slayers. Gajeel, Wendy and Natsu alike... They had never once mentioned Family before finding their Dragons, and he had to wonder why.

Wendy's eyes grew wide in disbelief; but her heart suddenly clenched at seeing how sad and even a little defeated Frea seemed in that moment. It shocked her to hear that Frea had a brother once upon a time, and that it hadn't ever been mentioned- but she quickly understood why she hadn't said anything before, and her hands moved up to cover her mouth, feeling suddenly awful.

"... Oh Frea... You mean...?" Wendy stammered, the Energy Dragon Slayer's eyes closed, nodding once.

"... It was a long time ago... And I was really young, but I still remember how I felt about him. How I still feel about him, even though I know I'm never going to see him again." Frea murmured softly, glancing toward Wendy with shinning eyes and a small, bright smile. "Don't feel so bad about asking, it really is alright. I suppose it was probably time I told someone." She smiled a little more, a plot to try and reassure the small Dragon Slayer a little. Frea could feel a wash of guilt and uneasiness flow from Wendy, and one she must feel rather bad for asking the question- seeing as how it turned out. But she didn't want Wendy to feel bad for asking... It was a valid question after all.

"Frea..." Wendy stammered, but she looked ahead again, her smile growing a little more, eyes shinning in... Determination.

"My brother may be gone, but he left me with something I still carry to this day... That undying devotion I feel for my Family. Its that feeling that I hold now for the Guild, and for everyone in it- my brother protected and cared for me with every ounce of strength he had... And now I try to do the same. He's the reason I feel so strongly for the Guild, my Family... And I'm gonna keep on protecting everyone, no matter what." Frea told them steadily, eyes glinting in a steely manner, pure and fiery emotion glinting in her silver gaze as her weariness and exhaustion seemed to melt away again. They looked to her in silent shock, how fast it was her feelings seemed to change.

Frea... Despite whatever happened, despite her own pain... She still pushed past it. She still remained so strong and determined, so powerful and focused.. It was nearly uncanny.

"I protect my Family with everything I have, that's never going to change."


"Show yourself you damned Bastard!" Gajeel shouted, eyes bringing in rage as he spun around- arm extended into a large blade and tearing it across the walls around him, scouring deep wounds into the stone and sending dust and rubble flying.

The large, circular room around him was unfamiliar and empty apart from himself and Hikien- who was curling about the room in his crimson and black electrical form.

He wasn't sure how it happened, but one moment they had been inside the atrium with the rest of his group and the hoard of Death Bolt members, and then suddenly they were here, alone.

"That little blue-haired Mage..." Hikien's voice echoed around him, low and chuckling a little. "... She has a soft spot in your heart, doesn't she?" Gajeel glowered, his arm returning to its normal form.

"... All that guilt and pain swirling around in that head of yours... Self loathing... Always was a fan of that."

Gajeel stiffened, Hikien materializing next to him in an instant- his leg swinging around as it rammed into Gajeel's stomach, sending him skidding back and coughing- blood spattering the stone floor at the wounds from being electrocuted earlier.

"You really used to be quite the monster." Hikien went on, coming to a pause, his hands in his pockets and dull eyes not looking toward the Iron Dragon Slayer. "Phantom Lord was well on its way to be inducted into the Baram Alliance... And the stories about you... The brutality, the violence, the bloodlust and the rage..." Hikien smirked slightly. "That old you that you've tried so hard to bury... It reminds me a lot of Lady Lyla." He started to laugh, lips pulled into a twisted smirk.

"Of course... You're a weak coward now... And Lady Lyla has only ever grown stronger..."

"Shut up! I ain't weak and I ain't no coward!" Gajeel snapped.

"Are you so sure?"

His body ached in unbelievable pain, the sight of the room around him suddenly falling away to the dazzling light as the sun lay above him- breaking through the destroyed roof overhead. He was clashing against brilliant flame, going head to head with Natsu over the stationary figure of Phantom Lord's moving Guild Hall, his body being beaten and pound at by Natsu's flaming fists over and over. He couldn't even move,

"Fire Dragon's Fist- Crimson Lotus!"

The explosion made him yell out in pain, falling back amongst the tunnel with a painful thud, his body to beaten and burned to move anymore...

... Jet and Droy were pounding at him with every attack they could muster, as he endured the onslaught and the pain without a word.

Laxus was beating him down, his body engulfed in agonizing waves of powerful electrical current- his yell of pain tearing at his throat as the pain seared over his body, the hateful look Laxus wore, the brutality in his features...

The pain of the lightning he blocked, by jumping in front of Levy... And then the feeling of the Heavenward Halberd he took to spare the Salamander... His leg being broken.

The Dragon Rider missiles, the awful beating he received from the Dorma Anim, the feel of his arm being fractured.

The pain of wicked claws tearing open his back, amongst the hoard and droves of monsters he fought against- Lily and Frea with him.

The beating, the battle on Tenrou that had nearly killed him... Every battle, every aspect of pain he had ever experienced, it all came flooding back to him all at once- all the pain and the agony, all that feeling- that was very real, he was feeling all of it over again, just as raw as the times they had happened. He was yelling at the unbearable agony sweeping through him- very aware he had fallen into the traps of Hikien's Magic, so immersed he couldn't move, nor make sense of anything- he couldn't resist it. And oh he tried...

Amongst the flashing memories, Hikien's features appeared to him where the visage of the Dragon he had battled in Crocus was- eyes glinting in sadistic happiness.

"You've been beaten time and time again... You are such a weakling." The man hissed, his electrified fist swinging toward and catching Gajeel across the face with a tremendous amount of force. He was sent flying, flung into the floor hard enough to wear a path trough it- the memories in front of his eyes faded.

"... You're the weakest of your fellows. And you know it." Hikien went on, his hands swiping toward Gajeel and snapping his fingers.

Hundreds of bolts of unnaturally colored lightning reigned down on him in terrifying, rapid succession. He yelled at the agony, body shaking and lurching under the attacks as his wild hair stood on end, blood dripping from his mouth and ears ever faster.

"You're always falling behind, isn't that it?" Hikien went on, smiling in a twisted manner. Gajeel panted, the attacks ceasing a moment as a shadow passed over his eyes, fists clenching as he lay in a small crater in the floor, body steaming and burned.

"Shut... Your... Damned mouth..." He growled lowly,

"But its the truth. You know it is... Its all in your head." Hikien smirked, tapping a finger to his temple, head tilting a little. Gajeel stiffened, fangs grinding down on one another as his body began to shake in sheer anger.

"Your calling me weak... And a coward... When your the one too afraid to face me head on." Gajeel growled, "Messin' with people's heads to throw them off, and then striking when their trapped in their own minds... That's just playing dirty, you damned coward." Hikien's smirk faded, turning into a small, dark scowl.

"I ain't weak... If you wanna play dirty, then fine... I'll play dirty."

Gajeel's person suddenly blazed with the lift of his Magic, his Magical Pressure increasing tenfold as pitch black began to spiral up around him, his body being encased in smooth, dark metal entirely, his hair shifting and moving freely from the wind that his Magic began to create. He got to his feet, stomping down on the stone so it shattered, his glowing red gaze fixed to Hikien- who stiffened a little.

"Iron-Shadow Dragon Mode..." Gajeel growled lowly,

Hikien hadn't any time to react as Gajeel's form melted away into shadow- the length of black seeping across the floor in seconds- Gajeel materializing just in front of the man, his metal encased fist drawing back as he slammed it into the Death Bolt Mage's jaw. His hit sent Hikien flying backward, his cheek bruising and bloodied instantly by the sheer power of the hit, but Gajeel was still on him- sending a flurry of powerful, precise blows onto the man in rapid succession- too fast for the suddenly winded Hikien to retaliate, letting out his own small, short shouts of pain as he began to be hit over and over again.

"... You little...!" Hikien hissed, disappearing from sight instantly- reappearing above Gajeel, half of his body in the form of crimson and black electricity. He sent a flurry of electricity toward Gajeel- who's body merely melted away into shadow, completely unaffected by the blow. Gajeel smirked darkly,

"You can't touch me like this, you damned bastard!" Gajeel snapped, Hikien scowled profusely.

"Shadows or not- your mind is still up for grabs!" Hikien snapped, "I've been simply playing with your mind up until now you fool, I can tear your head into millions of pieces- and reduce you to a writhing mass of pain, drooling with no mind left to allow you function!" Hikien's lips parted into a nearly manic smile, fingers curling as he held his arms in front of him, looking slightly unhinged.

"Memory Historia- Complete Emotion Influx!"

Gajeel doubled over in pain, insane amounts of sheer pain tearing out across his being in seconds, every scrap of pain ever endured suddenly crashing down on his body all at once, all of it heightened a hundred fold- it felt as if he was receiving every wound he had ever sustained over again in the course of seconds. The pain itself was nearly maddening... He couldn't even think straight, he was losing himself in the agony...

"Gajeel!"

His name was called out in a firm, nearly resonating voice that seemed easily able to break through his agony and confusion, easily sounding above his own screams of pain. At first he thought the voice was that of Levy... Before in a split second, his pain faded and before his eyes everything swirled... Into a large meadow; the grass bathed in moonlight, the scent of blood and death around him, his eyes wide as he heard the sound of shattering and someone hissing in pain, head snapping upward toward the bladed tail of the monster that had been about to attack him while he was down- only to find someone had stepped between him and what would have given him a world of hurt, her hands bloody and dripping in crimson as she held on to the razor sharp tail firmly, the tip of it plunged into her chest, body shaking from keeping the monstrous creature and its deadly weapon for a tail at bay, and stopping it from hitting him all together.

Soft silver fragments of Magic fell to the ground around her, her shield shattered and destroyed- leaving it so her body and her steely grip was the only thing guarding both himself, and her.

Gajeel stared in shock, he couldn't fully wrap his head around the fact that she had jumped in front of him. Why would she do that...?

He stiffened as she smiled and glanced over her shoulder at him, the shadow passing from over her eyes. The silver gaze was bright as fire and she smiled wider. Despite her obvious pain... She was still smiling at him.

"Tch... Don't give me that face, what did I tell you?" She asked. "I said I'll be there to stand up for you whenever you need me to, remember?"

"But..." He murmured and she rolled her eyes at him.

"Get it through your thick head already," She told him. "Your family, and I'm willing to die for you!"

The memory faded entirely, his pain fading fast as he found himself locking gazes with a bright, steely silver stare- her voice having brought him back to his senses... But, when did she...?

Hikien's face pulled into a scowl, eyes wide in absolute and utter shock at what happened- all in a split moment's time, his hold on Gajeel's mind and his forcing the man to relive all his pain tenfold in the course of a few seconds- all his control shattered, as a Memory he didn't purposely let resurface in the Iron Dragon Slayer's mind suddenly reared its head. He lost total control- and his eyes widened in utter and true shock to see who Gajeel had locked eyes with.

"You..." Hikien hissed, eyes burning in disbelief and rage. How could she have even managed...?! How could she shouting his name have managed to break his control over someone's mind like that...?!

"You're supposed to be dead!"


"We're nearly there." Frea muttered, eyes growing hard and flinty as they flew over the large expanse of a deep and dark forest, she sweatdropped slightly at the sudden evil Energy she could feel hanging in the air... How heavy it seemed.

Below her she could feel the Energy Signatures of the Guild- and hundreds of Dark Mages far, far below them. The sheer amount of Magical Pressure flowing through the air to ram into her made her stiffen slightly, eyes narrowing.

Her heart dropped a little, suddenly feeling a deep sense of foreboding... A feeling that had become all too frequent recently.

The trio of Uno, Iki and Carla began to angle downward- the ground approaching fast as the group all grew ever more tense. They were all too aware that danger was growing closer to them, and that they were about to step into what was quite frankly a battlefield.

They touched down, the Exceeds let go of those they carried, letting out small sighs and breathing heavily- flying as fast as they had over such a great distance was rather exhausting. They stood before a large hole in the earth, a tunnel that seemed to lead underground to the deepest parts of the earth- pure and powerful Negative Energy and deep, stifling and dark power that rolled to meet them in waves.

Frea stopped dead the moment her feet hit the ground, eyes growing wide and a large bead of sweat falling down her face- a shadow casting across her expression and body growing rigid. An icy cold chill fell over her being, her heart skipping a beat and beginning to race in true and utter disbelief... Even horror. Her breathing sped up, in small, silent, nearly panicked breaths. Her eyes fixed to the dark opening in front of them and mind racing.

There is... Absolutely no... No way...

"This feeling..." Wendy mumbled, standing a little ahead of Frea along with Laxus. The Exceeds dropped to the ground, their wings disappearing as they tried to catch their breath. "... It puts me on edge..."

"... Sounds like the Guilds already moved pretty deep inside," Laxus grumbled, arms over his chest as his ears strained to hear what he could from inside. His nose twitched a little, "Their scents are stale too.."

Frea took a small step back- her sudden tenseness and nearly horrified reaction going unnoticed by the others around her for now, her senses casting out deeper, her mind racing in shattered fragments- she wasn't able to believe... She couldn't..

I-it... Its not possible...!

She just sweatdropped more, heart sinking more and more as that chill over her grew colder. Icy beads of sweat dripped down her back, and suddenly all her anger and her pain... She couldn't feel it. She was just too shocked... She could hardly think at all... She couldn't even hear what the others were saying around her, all she could hear was her own heart thudding in her chest, and her thoughts arguing and screaming over and over in her head, trying desperately to convince herself it wasn't real... She was imagining it...

It couldn't be possible!

"... Hopefully the Guild hasn't faced any real trouble." Carla murmured, sweatdropping a little.

"We should hurry." Uno said, paws clenching as her eyes hardened.

"We're wasting time. We should get moving, and fast." Iki put in, looking nearly as resolute as his sinking. Wendy and Carla nodded a little, Laxus blinked- he agreed they should get moving, but something suddenly occurred to him.

Shouldn't Frea have gone running in the minute they landed? Being as angry and fired up about all of this as she had been?

He realized nearly immediately he hadn't heard her move, nor had he heard her say a damn thing.

"Hey, what the hell is up with-?" He started, turning back to look her way, eyes narrowed and tone low. He stopped dead- eyes widening and sweatdropping heavily, completely and utterly shocked, and suddenly a little wary.

What the hell...?

Frea had gone utterly pale, her expression one of true and utter horror- she looked nearly terrified... Her frame shaking slightly and sweatdropping heavily, her eyes fixed ahead and looking suddenly cold. She looked terrified, she was frozen to the spot.. She was shaking... She almost looked sick.

Laxus sweatdropped more, feeling his heart lurch in utter shock. He'd never seen her like this, never seen such an expression... Never seen her react in such a way, ever. Hell, he'd never once even seen her remotely fearful, or scared in anyway... Let alone so terrified like this, so pale and trembling. He hadn't seen her afraid, and seeing it so suddenly now- his heart started to race, and he could only stare in a shocked stupor, his mind having a hard time understanding or even beginning to guess what on earth could make Frea of all people so terrified she was rooted to the spot like that.

Everyone else's attention suddenly snapped toward Frea once he broke off halfway through his question, all of them stiffening in shock at seeing her expression, their hearts dropping and eyes wide- hardly able to believe what they were seeing themselves. Because they had never seen Frea looking like that before, they'd never seen her scared, ever... And never thought they would.

"F-Frea...?" Wendy stammered, taking a small step toward the Dragon Slayer, expression worried.

"Miss Frea...?" Iki and Uno stammered, Laxus blinked, still looking surprised and even a little nervous now. He shifted, arms unhooking and stiffening slightly- she looked really, really pale. For a small moment he was afraid she might just keel over, but what the hell for..?!

"Hey, what the hell has gotten into you..?" He grumbled, eyes narrowing slightly. Frea gave no indication of having heard them at all- her eyes remained fixed ahead, as if she was seeing something they couldn't- or feeling it.

She couldn't... understand... She'd know this... This Energy Signature anywhere... She knew it instinctively, with little effort... She couldn't... Couldn't be imagining it..,, but... But how...?!

Her mind was racing around in circles trying to come up with an answer for how in the hell... How is she alive...?!

Her heart froze over with ice as she remembered back to that day- the end of it being a blur as her as Winter's Magic reached a high... Did I ever feel her Energy Signature go out? Disappear...?

The more she thought on it, the more convinced she was she hadn't... And she'd never realized it!

But that attack... It should have destroyed her... I'm alive... But... But I thought... Chaitanya... She...

Even in her nearly frantic mind and pounding heart, she knew she wasn't imagining it. She knew what she felt... It was entirely real, and when she focused harder, searched deeper... Her heart stopped in a sheer wave of complete terror. Terror... She was never afraid, she never felt this way... Not unless... Not until...

She didn't want this to be true, she had a hard time believing it was... But she couldn't lie to herself... And her mind was having a hard time coming to terms with it.

If she's here... If... The Guild... Moon...

She blinked, that foreboding in her heart deepening and she clenched her fists, trying to get herself to calm down.

I don't have any Magic... If I face... I can't fight...

Her eyes narrowed, sweatdropping heavily.

... Can... Can the Guild win, against...?

"Frea!" Laxus snapped harshly, earning her attention immediately- aware she hadn't been hearing anything but the beating of her own heart for a few long moments, his voice suddenly broke through her thoughts.

He was scowling at her, though he still looked a little nervous and put off, by her reaction no doubt...

She took a sudden, deep breath, eyes closing and shaking her head furiously and trying to shake off the rush of emotions. Moving caused pain to flare through her body, but for now she ignored it. She growled, she hated feeling like this... She just couldn't... Help it...

... Damn it! Snap out of it!

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" He snapped lowly, miffed he had been ignored.

"A-are you alright..?" Wendy stammered,

"... I'm fine." Frea mumbled, running a hand through her hair a moment, eyes opening as they fixed on the entrance again, glittering with hundreds of indiscernible emotions. She seemed to have calmed down a considerable amount, and regained herself... But she still seemed considerably tense, and they could still detect faint inklings of fear on her face. She sweatdropped, eyes closing again and fists clenching at her sides.

"... Shadow is here."

Her words caused them all to stiffen, eyes growing wide in absolute shock and slight fear- Wendy let a gasp escape her lips, hands pulling to her chest. Laxus went rigid, a bead of sweat dripping down his face and eyes growing wide.

"W-what...?!" Wendy stammered, she had heard stories... And none of them were pleasant.

"I thought you killed her." Laxus murmured lowly and Frea sweatdropped.

"... So did I." She replied lowly, "... I don't know how, or why... But Shadow is alive... And she's inside there." Her eyes flicked to the entrance. "I'm not making a mistake... I'd know her Energy Signature anywhere... Hell." He fists clenched harder. "Her soul was inside of me for years. I know the feel of her Energy Signature instinctively."

"You didn't kill that Demon, girl. Shadow lives on in a different form... As do I."

... I... I wanted that to be... A lie...

Iki and Uno exchanged glances, not sure who this Shadow was- but quite sure it was something considerably dangerous. But their eyes weren't on the Dragon Slayers- but rather on Carla, who had turned toward the entrance and suddenly gone very very still, her form trembling slightly. The white Exceed hadn't said anything for a long while now.. It was almost as if she were in a trance.

"Carla...?" They asked in unison. Hearing her name, Wendy glanced down- seeing the distant and nearly horrified look on her Partner's face, immediately recognizing it.

"Carla...?" Wendy asked, "Did you just get another premonition..?" She asked, Iki and Uno blinked in shock, while Carla let her eyes close and her focus returned.

Laxus and Frea were immediately aware of the Exceed, who nodded slightly in answer to Wendy's question.

"I... I think so... But it was somehow different." Carla replied,

"Premonition...?" Uno and Iki mumbled under their breaths, eyes wide in surprise.

"What did you see?" Wendy pressed, Carla held a paw to her temple, face scrunching slightly in concentration.

"Nothing clear... But I think I saw the Guild, all of us... Being consumed by shadows... And then there was... Some bright large, ball of light... With someone in the center of it... And also a voice... But I couldn't make out what it was saying." Carla eyes opened, sweatdropping slightly. "I'm sorry I can't explain more... But all I can say is, things are going to get worse..." Her eyes trailed from Wendy's concerned expression to Frea. "... And if Shadow is truly here and alive... I'm sure things will get much, much worse..." Frea sweatdropped slightly, nodding faintly.

Engulfed in shadows... A bright ball of light... A voice...

Frea sighed, "Lets hurry." She said firmly, her sudden fire beginning to blaze anew. "Shadow being here or not, I'm not stopping until Moon's been rescued." They nodded, eyes firm as she stepped into the black entryway. They were slightly reassured, seeing the Frea they were used to suddenly begin to resurface.

"Stick close... There's warding Magic circles about the entrance. Let's try our best not to get separated."


"... Silver...?" Gajeel breathed, eyes slightly wide and sweatdropping a little as he focused on her form standing not far from him- the figures of Wendy, Laxus, Carla and two other Exceeds beside her.

The memory of her standing between him and the monster faded from his mind, to simply see her standing there, bandaged to hell but looking strong and resolute despite the pain she must be in, and the exhaustion that was no doubt weighing her down. For a minute his mind reeled, his pain fading as Hikien's hold over him ceased entirely and said man continued to glare in her direction, though she didn't seem to care.

And then suddenly annoyance and anger swept through him, a vein ticked on his forehead and his fists clenched at his sides- all his agony and any indication of it disappearing.

"What the hell, Silver?! You shouldn't be here, you idiot!" He snapped, she frowned slightly. Gajeel pointed a finger angrily at Wendy, and then Laxus alike- his annoyance still flaring. "And what the hell is wrong with you two?! Why'd you even let her come?!"

Wendy shrank a little under the angry words, while Laxus glared slightly, a vein ticking on his forehead and fangs grinding down on one another- not at all amused with the Iron Dragon Slayer snapping at him.

Gajeel's attention snapped to Iki and Uno, who blinked when his crimson eyes fell on him, a confused and bewildered expression crossing his face.

"And who the hell are you two?!" They sweatdropped slightly,

"Gajeel!" Frea snapped again, his attention focused back on the matter at hand nearly instantly- seeing Hikien about to move from the corner of his eye. She stiffened, looking ready to jump in and attack the Death Bolt man- but was stopped. Laxus took a step in front of her, barring her movement as Wendy did the same- both their expressions resolute and unwavering as their gazes fixed to Hikien.

Iki and Uno jumped forward in seconds, moving much faster than anyone had thought they could- Magic Circles appearing around their outstretched paws as streams of Gold Magic began to circle about their forms.

"Beast Soul!" The two shouted in unison, their Magical Pressure increasing.

"Etherious Cougars!"

The air shook with two furious, air trembling roars as both Iki and Uno appeared from their Magic- both of them now in the form of two, incredible large and powerful cougars. They were easily as tall as Elfman in his Beast Form, with stripes that glowed a pale blue running through their fur- long, razor sharp claws and teeth.

They soared over Gajeel's head, eyes locked on to Hikien who looked taken aback by the sudden burst in power from the two Exceeds.

"Incredible!" Carla stammered,

"Beast Soul? Like Elfman?" Wendy mumbled,

Iki landed on the ground, his claws tearing into the stone floor and making it shatter under his sudden immense weight. In one swift movement, Uno landed on her brothers broad shoulders and pushed off, flipping in air as her tail glowed with the blue light coursing through her fur- the Etherious running through both her and her brothers veins.

"Back off!"

She flipped in air, her tail swiping down in a wave of pure Magical Power and intense speed, Hikien melted into dark and crimson electricity as the attack grew near, looking unhappy at the new arrivals.

The Magic rammed into his electrical form as if it were pure solid still- and he yelled out in pain as he was sent flying backward, the fluidity of his form rendered null.

Iki stepped in front of Gajeel, growling lowly and eyes locked straight on to Hikien as his sister landed back beside him, both snarling and baring their teeth.

Hikien coughed, slowly picking himself back up and whipping blood away from the corner of his mouth. His eyes narrowed, "... How in the hell...?"

"Nice hit, Uno!" Wendy called, earning a flick of the she-cats ears in response.

"Why the hell can you hit the bastard when he's like that so easily?" Gajeel grumbled, his Shadow-Iron Dragon Mode having imploded long ago.

"Creatures whose bodies and hearts have been fused with Etherion, contain pure Magic Power composed of hundreds of different elements and powers all at once." Iki growled,

"Etherious is so diverse, and so powerful- nothing can avoid being hit by its power- not even people who contain such forms as he does." Uno snarled lowly, "With Etherion, everything gets hit, it can't be avoided."

"Two beasts who were given life through Etherion, and which held all its power in terrifying immensity- these are the Beasts who's souls we captured, to save our hometown- and to later found our Guild on the power they hold." Iki went on, "Twin Cougars, twin beasts... Twin Power."

Frea blinked, eyes narrowing and sweatdropping a little. Etherious infused beasts... Given life through Etherion? Was that even a possibility? Etherion was made of so many different Magics and Elements, it was deathly poisonous to all Wizards who came in contact with it... Let alone were infused with it... Natsu had once tried to eat some of it, and ended up hurting for it..

... Cougars given life through Etherion... Somewhere in the back of her mind, this feeling she got from Iki and Uno's Beast Souls... There was something familiar, but she couldn't place it...

"Fine... You can hit me..." Hikien growled, getting to his feet slowly. "... That's unexpected... So is the fact that you're still alive." His gaze moved to land on Frea, who stiffened slightly. Hikien's head cocked, "... The things Master Tomaru did with you... You should be dead, ten times over."

Wendy and Laxus moved in front of Frea a bit more, earning Hikien's focus as they moved- Wendy settled a firm glare on the man, while the expression that passed over Laxus' face was suddenly very dark, and very dangerous. Lightning crackled about Laxus' person slowly, Hikien blinked.

"Hmm?" The man hummed, before he smiled wide, twisted and nearly sadistic. "That memory attached to your Magic... Oh that's very recent... And very painful..."

"So you like screwing with people's heads, huh?" Laxus growled, a shadow falling over his eyes. "You won't get the chance to start messing with mine, not before I destroy you."

"That's a lot of bravado, all in one man." Hikien muttered, "... Big words, but no one can resist my Magic. Your mind is mine for the playing with."

Laxus moved quicker than anyone could manage to keep track of him, leaping forward in a flash of golden light. His fist connected with Hikien's face, the man was sent crashing into the ground with enough force to shatter the floor- lightning crackling about their persons and sending light dancing about the room with a thunderous boom. Wendy and Carla flinched slightly, Iki and Uno stared with wide eyes at the sheer ferocity that the man seemed to have in that moment.

"... Tch..." Gajeel grumbled under his breath, sweatdropping slightly. After all... Laxus did defeat a Wizard Saint. He was just slightly miffed that after all the trouble he went through with the bastard, that one hit from Laxus would be the end of it.

"... Lightning... Has little... Effect on me... You dumbass..." Hikien hissed, suddenly his arm reaching up and clasping down into Laxus' arm. Laxus stiffened at the steely grip, seeing no amount of weariness or even pain in the man's gaze as he looked up toward him. "I'm gonna rip this arm right off, teleport it to the bottom of the ocean- see how well you do with only one arm left."

"Armor!" Wendy snapped, her hand swinging forward toward Laxus as a Magic Circle appeared before her palm. Laxus growled slightly, feeling Hikien's Magic begin to rise under his hold, before feeling Wendy's Magic wrap about him.

Laxus ripped away from Hikien's grasp, his body falling away into an arc of glittering lightning that streamed over and away from Hikien- who got to his feet, face pulled into a scowl as his dark and twisted glare turned on Wendy, she sweatdropped slightly.

"Neat little trick there, you brat... Managing to ward off my Teleportation Magic like that." Hikien growled, "You are making me very.. Very angry..." His face pulled into a grin, "Ever done something... You regret..?"

Wendy's eyes widened, as Hikien's figure suddenly melted away into the figure of... Of Cait Shelter..!

The figures and the faces of all the people she had come to know and love looked back at her with sad, mournful smiles. Her heart fluttered, tears pricking at her eyes as she felt her heart tearing in two.

They began to melt and fade away, everyone she loved... Ghosts and leaving her forever. Leaving her utterly alone, empty.

If they hadn't destroyed Nirvana... Her home, her family.. They...

"No! Don't leave me!" She yelled, falling to her knees as the tears streamed from her eyes, all sense of what was going on suddenly lost to her.

"Wendy!" Carla snapped, eyes wide as the girl fell to her knees- staring at something that wasn't there.

"Lets see how much fun we can have with all your memories, shall we?" Hikien grinned, his eyes landing on the form of Laxus- who was moving to attack him again, an angry scowl on his face.

"You ain't doing that again!" Gajeel snapped, his arms swinging forward in the form of a club. Hikien turned into Levy right before his eyes, but he didn't pull up- though in his heart he wanted to.

"I'll make you all forget where you are... You'll be consumed by every shred of grief and heartache and pain you've ever experienced... I'm gonna play with your heads, twisting your worst experiences. Hehe... How fun."

Laxus brought his fist back to strike Hikien again, the man's eyes switched to him with a malicious smirk, as his features melted away into that of Ivan- he faltered slightly, stopping as his father's hand plunged into his chest with a gut wrenching snap of muscle and bone- blood dripping from his mouth as pain swept through his entire being, his power quickly leaving him.

"Laxus! Gajeel!" Frea snapped, eyes narrowed and sweatdropping as everyone around her suddenly stopped dead in their tracks- pain and grief and rage suddenly sparking off of the lot of them in immense, unbearable waves. She flinched at the onslaught of sudden emotion, seeing Gajeel double over in pain as Laxus did the same, before Wendy and Carla alike let out shouts of pain. Iki and Uno roared in agony, clawing at the ground and writhing about as if fire had encased their bodies. "Hey! All of you! Get a hold of yourselves!"

She hissed, seeing Hikien's gaze suddenly land on her from where he stood in the center of her companions, all lost in their own heads and their own painful memories. His orange eyes glittering in malice and dark intrigue, she flinched slightly- feeling a painful prick flash around her temple.

"That lock on your mind... I noticed it before." He murmured softly, smiling widely. "Its pretty powerful... But." She stiffened, seeing that around him the air seemed to grow thick and turn pitch black, a cold chill falling over her body and the sense of his Magic rising. His features twisted more, smiling in a sickly sweet manner toward her as she stared- seeing a shadow pass over his face. She winced, feeling another stab of pain in her temple. She tensed, fists clenching and heart racing.

"Those memories in your head... So dark, and deep... They're powerful... Not even whatever Spell you used to block your mind can stop me.. Not when your memories are so wanting to break free on their own..!"

The world seemed to lose all noise, everything went deathly quiet around her. The only thing she heard- was the unmistakable sound of something shattering, breaking and falling apart- a wave of pure pain racing through her head that she hadn't felt since Kasumi's Memory Sealing Spell began to unravel.

Her silver eyes locked with Hikien's orange ones, seeing the sickening pleasure on his face as her mind seared in agony, feeling his Magic tearing out at the wash of memory that came flooding forward-

He broke the seal... He broke the Spell I had on my mind... There is no... No damn way..!

She felt her heart drop, seeing Hikien's figure begin to melt away in the flood of long since buried memories that suddenly rushed up to ram into her. All of the things she had kept hidden and under lock in key in the deepest corners of her mind... Things she kept at bay, for fear of what... What they...

They all came crashing down over her head in seconds, and uncontrolled flood, rushing through all on their own accord.

Hikien's features suddenly turned to one of complete and utter horror, sweatdropping heavily as his grip on Frea's mind slipped right from his control in seconds. His own mind was plunged into the sea of agony and fear and despair that rushed over her own head, feeling the wounds she experienced, the pain... The heartbreak, agony... The sheer torture.

His face pulled into a look of terror, body beginning to shake as his mind was bombarded with all of it against his own will- as he experienced all of it, all the emotion, the feeling... He yelled out in pain, struggling to regain control over his Magic, and her memories threatening to swallow him whole.

The memories... Her past... It had all been much more powerful than he had thought, it was enough to consume his own mind, derail his control and to send him spiraling into the pit of agony that suddenly Frea was living again, he felt him losing himself in it, his Magic losing all control as the flood of memory took control on its own. He felt his mind unhinging, his senses being torn and shredded, yelling and screaming in utter pain at the images, at the life he was living- a life that wasn't his.

As he lost control of his Magic, everyone else were released from his hold on their heads- the memories they relived suddenly gave way to the dark, round room of the Death Bolt Guild, as they stared in utter shock and confusion to see Hikien stepping backward, his entire form shaking and covered in sweat, eyes wild and alight with the look of a man out of his senses. His face pulled into something halfway between a terrified expression, to a pain filled one- and an insane grin as he chuckled in broken, low snippets, eyes shaking a little and all color drained from his face.

His glittering orange eyes landed on Frea- who had come to a stand still, fists clenched at her sides and head tilted down- her hair shadowing her face and keeping it from view. She didn't move, didn't say anything, instead she just stood in deathly silence- as everyone around them stared in complete confusion.

They hadn't been under Hikien's hold for more than a few moments- when suddenly it seemed... He lost it. His control, it was shattered, and their ears were bombarded with his screams of pain- seeing him looking so exhausted and frayed, though there wasn't a scratch on him.

"H-how... Hehe... How are..." Hikien stammered in broken fragments, taking a few steps back as if he was off balance, his eyes ever locked onto Frea. His orange eyes suddenly filled with a look of haunting, and some sort of deranged light, ".. hehe... After all... All of... That...! h-How are you... Even sane...?!" He called, his voice rising to a strained, high pitch, sweat pouring down his face. His head cocked, eyes wild and glinting madly, grin twisted and uneasy. Frea stiffened slightly, shoulders hunching a little as everyone else blinked, sweatdropping heavily at the more than odd turn in events.

"What the hell...?" Iki grumbled lowly,

"... What happened..?" Wendy stammered, a little off put by the expression on Hikien's face.

"Hey! What the hell did you do to Silver?!" Gajeel snapped furiously, not liking how silent and unmoving Frea was. Laxus let out a low growl, fists clenching but his narrowed eyes turned to Frea, watching her steadily as he tried to make out if she was hurt or not- he had given his word no one would touch her after all, and it seemed like he may have failed.

Hikien didn't seem to be aware of anyone other than Frea in the room anymore, his suddenly deranged gaze locked to her and his body shaking violently, his twisted grin grew wider, pulling at his suddenly tense and manic features even more.

"... Scratch that... How are you even human...?!" He laughed lowly, humorlessly. The question caused Gajeel, Iki, Uno, Carla and Wendy to stiffen slightly, blinking at such an odd question.

Frea let out a low hiss, her arm suddenly moving up as she furiously rubbed it against her face and eyes- which were still hidden from view.

Laxus froze, eyes widening slightly and sweatdropping to see small, faint glittering droplets of moisture suddenly fall through the air to dot the ground at Frea's feet, leaving the stone slightly darker. His breath caught in his throat a moment, eyes wide and staring as his heart seemed to leap a little- hardly believing what he was seeing as she continued to rub at her face with her arm a few more moments, messing her bangs up in the process as the shadow continued to hide her face from their view.

Wendy, Carla and Gajeel blinked in utter shock, managing to catch sight of the glittering droplets just faintly, feeling their hearts drop a little. They could hardly believe it, none of them could, least of all Laxus- who had known Frea for much longer.

".. D-Damn it..." She hissed lowly, too lowly for anyone other than the three other Dragon Slayers to hear the words.

Was she...?

In their minds, the image of those glittering droplets hitting the stone at her feet played over again.

... No way...

"F-Frea...?" Wendy stammered softly, hands coming up and clasping in front of her,

"Silver..." Gajeel breathed, red eyes staring. He looked dumbfounded a moment, before his expression was pulled into a small, tense frown, eyes narrowing.

If it was Hikien's Magic to reach into people's heads, and to make them relive their most painful memories... He stiffened, eyes wide and sweatdropping heavily.

"Kasumi didn't think her memory sealing spell through... But even when she had my prisoner the first time, I refused to do it. No matter how many times she yelled at me... or how many times she hurt me..." Frea murmured and he saw the pain flash in her gaze.

He had never thought about it before now, because when ever he looked at her, he saw strength, power. Even after everything that had happened to her, Silver never actually seemed bothered by it. But right now, he could see it in her eyes. How much Kasumi had hurt her, how much the Key Maker must have put her through.

He remembered that day well, that time they had taken the Job to Jogenen... He remembered clearly, seeing the sheer pain and darkness that she usually kept hidden away when she talked about Kasumi, about her life before Fairy Tail. The awful things that she must have been put through... Things that he and the Guild were sure was nothing less than torture.

His fists clenched, his angry red stare suddenly shifting to the very unstable form of Hikien- feeling rage and unhappiness flaming inside of him.

That bastard... Did he really... Make her relive all that again?!

Frea rubbed at her face with her arm a little more, before her arm fell and her fists clenched- shoulders hunched and body rigid, suddenly shaking.

Laxus stared, his mind reeling and his heart suddenly dropping a little- an unexpected wave of anger and something deep, and powerful welling up inside of him. There was something that hit him, some feeling he wasn't familiar with... Something powerful, something that made him tense, something that hurt, ever so slightly. For some reason, seeing Frea so still, seeing those droplets... Tears.

She was crying.

He had never, not once- in all the years he had known her- he had never once seen her cry over anything. He'd never seen her eyes water from pain or rage, or even sadness... She never did that, she never cried... And now, seeing her crying... His face fell as a shadow passed over it, his body growing rigid and fists clenching tightly.

He didn't know why, or what it was... But seeing Frea like that, he didn't like it. In reality- he hated that, and his rage toward the man who had done that grew fiercer.

His jaw clenched, a vein ticking on his forehead.

He'd never thought about it.. For the longest time he hadn't cared. He had been so caught up in that stupid, childish hate he held for Frea to ever even wonder about it... To give it any notice, but in the back of his mind- he knew very well;

Frea had been hurt in her life. Maybe a lot worse, and a lot deeper than anybody else he knew. She had suffered, and still she had never let it hold her down... Because she didn't dwell on it. She didn't think about it, and she didn't think about it for good reason- because her past? It was deep and dark and so very painful... It was enough to drive anyone insane. But she kept it at bay, and now- that bastard...

... I'm an idiot! I told the Old Man.. I gave my word... I wasn't going to let anyone touch her... Damn it!

His eyes snapped up, seeing Frea's head snap up toward Hikien. He faltered, eyes wide and sweatdropping the intensely dark look across her face, her rage twisted, painful expression- her eyes steely and cold...

She looked murderous... Like she wanted to kill...

"... You..." She hissed lowly, her tone sending shivers up their spines at the clear and incredibly powerful venom in it. Hikien flinched at her gaze, sweating more and trembling harder. Everyone flinched, feeling a sudden wave of pressure radiate from her- though her Magic didn't make itself visible,

"I am going to kill you."

Wendy flinched, eyes wide and trembling a little. She had heard Frea say those words before... But she had never heard the Energy Dragon Slayer say them and truly mean it. Frea fought people to beat them, not to kill. But suddenly, they could hear the bloodlust- and her deathly murderous gaze, that shocked them, and made them a little nervous. It was a sudden glimpse to a side of Frea they hadn't ever seen before, nor wanted to see in all honesty...

Frea took a step forward, suddenly looking ready to move against the man- only to stop short, blinking in utter shock as Gajeel appeared beside her suddenly, his arm grabbing on to hers with an iron grip, he shook his head at her once- looking serious as she stiffened.

Uno and Iki leapt forward, their jaws clamping down onto one of Hikien's legs each, earning a yell of pain from the man as he was rendered suddenly immobile- their claws digging into the ground underneath in case he tried to make a run for it.

Wendy held her arms out in front of her, a Magic Circle appearing in the air before her, eyes hard and expression resolute. "Power of the stout arms that tear heaven... Arms!"

Frea stared, suddenly seeing a flash of gold race across the room toward Hikien in the form of Laxus- whose expression was one a dark fury and rage. Wendy's Spell fell over him, making his already colossal strength suddenly tenfold- the feel of his anger washing over her in sync with the feeling of his Power.

His fist swung back, moving like a blur as gold electricity danced around the room wildly- eyes dark and locked on to Hikien who watched him coming with wide, terrified eyes.

No one... Nobody gets away with that...!

Laxus' power increased tenfold, his furious gaze locking with Hikien's, jaw clenched and seething in anger.

No way in hell anybody gets away with doing that to her!

"Roaring Thunder!" Laxus' voice was nearly lost to the deafening series of booms that shook the room to its core, Hikien engulfed in the rain of electricity that connected with him as Laxus' fist rammed into his face with a resounding crack. Shadows were torn out at and cast away as they battled with the blinding light of the lightning, Hikien's yell of agony ringing around them as the man was released from the jaws of Uno and Iki- who jumped away as soon as Laxus' attack made contact.

Hikien smashed into the wall behind him, shattering it and creating a small crater- his eyes whited out as all sense left him, and he crumpled to the floor, utterly defeated.

Frea stood in stiff silence, eyes slightly wide and locked to the scene- Gajeel's hold on her arm remaining.

... She was shocked... She couldn't remember the last time she had seen Laxus so furious.. So fierce... So angry.

He just... He used that move against Jura.. Didn't he...?

Unbeknownst to her, there had been a quick exchange of words that had passed between Wendy, Gajeel, Laxus, Iki and Uno alike in those few seconds Frea had started to move. With her being so intent on killing the man- they had immediately been aware they couldn't let her do it. Not only was she still hurt, but as angry as she was... No matter how much pain Hikien may have forced her through, they couldn't in good conscience let her murder him in cold blood. Even if maybe he deserved it.

They were Wizards of Fairy Tail... They didn't kill. They wouldn't let her stoop down to the level these bastards in Death Bolt were at. Wizards like them, who murdered and shattered lives without remorse- that wasn't who they were, who Frea was. They couldn't let her kill him, no matter what.

Though, maybe they wanted to themselves...

The feel of Frea's Magical Pressure suddenly lessened, still gazing at Laxus, who had his back turned to her while still glaring daggers at the downed Hikien. Her mind was swirling... Painful and dark, but suddenly... For a minute she was still.

... What is this...?

... This feeling... Am I feeling it...? Or...

She blinked, sweatdropping slightly.

... Is this something I'm feeling from... Laxus...?

There was something she didn't recognize... But there was anger... Anger she knew too well. Anger toward one self...

Unbeknownst to her, he was thoroughly pissed with himself for letting Frea get dragged into that fight before he managed to take Hikien out. He didn't like that he hadn't made good on his word, Frea wasn't supposed to get involved... And damn it, because he got so wrapped up in his head, she had been dragged in... And he freaking hated that.

"Silver," Frea's thoughts snapped back to the present, faintly aware that for a few moment there, everything had slowed and quieted. At the sound of Gajeel's voice, as reality sped back up- the pain over her body suddenly flared to life again, and more powerfully, the agonizing waves of pain rushing through her head continually. With that, suddenly a wash of light headedness rammed into her, and she had to try hard not to wince nor sway.

What Hikien did... That made her angrier than could be imagined, that sent her mind racing without proper thought, and she had been ready and willing to lay into the man- but now it dissipated, and she felt cold and frayed. She sweatdropped slightly,

... And maybe a little...

"Silver." Gajeel said again when she failed to answer, his voice low and red eyes locked to her. Her eyes closed and he stiffened, sweatdropping a little.

She suddenly sank to the floor to sit on her heels, his grip on her arm tightening a little as he tried to steady her as she sat down without warning, crouching next to her and eyes narrowed and glittering. He didn't fail to notice how frayed and distracted she was, nor how tense- and his heart sank a little to see how unusually pale she was. She looked awful in all reality, and it wasn't just physically anymore- it was mentally.

His arm rest on her uninjured shoulder lightly, sweatdropping as she brought a hand to her chest, breathing in a few times as if to settle her nerves.

"... Tch..." He mumbled, "... Silver... You ok...?" He mumbled, though he was sure he knew the answer. But he was also sure she was going to deny what he thought, but he felt maybe a little worried... If any of his suspicions about her past were even remotely true, and seeing how Hikien reacted to what had seen of her past- he was a little concerned about her.

"... Fine..." She mumbled nearly half-heartedly, her eyes still closed. He sighed heavily,

"... Damn it... This is why you shouldn't have showed up.." He muttered, his red eyes trailing to Laxus a moment.

What on earth possessed that monster of a man to let her come to Death Bolt at all...?

"... Thanks... For stopping me..." She mumbled lowly, he blinked, seeing her eyes on the floor, before he nodded slightly.

"Frea!" Wendy said, suddenly appearing beside them with worried eyes. She settled down next to them, looking concerned as she leaned in toward Frea with wide eyes. "Are you alright? Hikien didn't... He didn't... Did he...?" She stammered, looking unsure as Frea sweatdropped a little.

"... I'm alright. He didn't manage to mess with my head too much." Frea murmured lowly. "And he didn't actually hit me either, so I'm fairly ok."

"But... I thought mind related Magic didn't work on you...?" Wendy asked quietly, looking unconvinced of the answer. Frea stiffened slightly, her fists clenching.

"... It wasn't supposed to." She replied through gritted teeth. Iki and Uno approached slightly, changing from their Beast Soul forms with Carla beside them- looking a little uneasy.

"... What's going on? Where is everyone?" Frea asked suddenly, changing the subject as her eyes rest on Gajeel steadily. "Tell me everything you know." She said lowly, almost in a commanding tone- he stiffened slightly, seeing that haunted look in her eyes suddenly go away, as more of the Frea he was used to came back.

"... I got split off from everybody else by that guy." He replied, gesturing toward Hikien's crumpled form. "Last I knew- Salamander and a few of the others were going head to head with that Tomaru guy. Lily and the blue cat rushed off down another corridor, trying to find Moon. I haven't heard anything from them since, the Telepathic Link's been goin' in and out for awhile now." He quirked an eyebrow at her, "Ain't yer Energy Sense supposed to tell you where everyone is pretty easy?" He asked and she blinked,

"Everything's growing more and more distorted, because of the overwhelming power I can feel Shadow building up." She replied lowly, he blinked in slight shock at the sudden name. Frea sweatdropped slightly, "She's planning something big... I can't reach my senses anywhere near where she is, let alone farther into this place anymore..."

"Wait a minute, Shadow?" He asked immediately, sweatdropping himself at the sudden seriousness that fell over everyone else. "You mean.. That Shadow..?!" He nearly stammered, Frea nodded.

"She's alive, and she's here." Frea muttered lowly, he frowned.

"... Don't tell me that's what that ghost-chic was talking about.." He grumbled, earning a blink from Frea.

"Jynx? She knew?" Frea asked and he nodded slightly, Frea scowled slightly, looking considerably miffed as her eyes fell closed again, fists clenching in her lap.

"Yeah, but she didn't tell us exactly what it was." He grumbled, running a hand through his hair.

"You think the Old Man knows?"

They all jumped slightly at the sound of Laxus' voice, not having noticed him approaching the group at all. Now he stood beside them, arms over his chest and expression tense, yet neutral.

"Or the rest of the Guild, for that matter?" Wendy murmured, looking concerned.

Gajeel shook his head a little, shrugging his shoulders just slightly. "No clue... If he does, he didn't say anything. As for the rest of the Guild, I'd say we're all in the dark... Though I'm sure they'll find out soon enough, if what Silver said is true about Shadow gathering power."

Damn Jynx... How could she not have warned everyone about this?!

"... Frea." Her attention snapped upward, seeing Carla had settled her with a worried and tense expression, paws clenched at her sides. It had been the white she-cat to say her name, and she blinked- feeling fear begin sparking off of her.

"Hmm?" She hummed, blinking a few times and suddenly a little tense.

"... I keep having visions... But more and more, I think they're less visions... Than they are something trying to tell me something." Carla started slowly, gaining the attention of everyone else. Her eyes fell to the ground, stiffening slightly. "The darkness is still there... And that ball of light I mentioned earlier... But now there's a voice I don't recognize. I thought at first it may have been someone in the Guild saying something, but I don't recognize it at all."

"What is it saying?" Wendy pressed, Carla sweatdropped.

"... That light is fading. That darkness has taken too much control, and that the light is going to be destroyed." Carla murmured, "... Also, something about... Two sides. Two forces, and a scale. That one does not exist without the other, and that one side is buried, or trapped, or something of that nature." Frea's eyes narrowed in slight confusion along with everyone else's, Carla shook her head a little, looking a little frustrated. "That there are two halves, of a single whole. And that is how it had always been."

Frea stiffened slightly, blinking a few times as the words suddenly struck an odd chord in her head. She felt that way at what Carla was saying... For whatever reason it seemed familiar. Like she had heard them before, or maybe even read them somewhere... Some time ago... But what was it about...?

Why does that sound like some thing I've heard before?

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Gajeel grumbled,

"Sounds ominous." Uno commented lowly,

"Almost... Prophetic, wouldn't you say?" Iki murmured, head tilting slightly. Laxus' eyes narrowed, as he let out a small 'hmm'.

"... And the person, in the center of the ball of light." Carla continued, Frea's attention snapping back to her. The she-cats eyes trailed back up to her, "Its still blurred, and hard to make out... I'm not certain, but I think there's two people... Some young man I've never seen... And Moon, I think." Frea blinked in confusion, not sure what on earth any of that could mean. Someone trying to give Carla a message? Two halves of a whole? Moon and some guy in a hall of light...? What the hell?! Seriously..?!

And still she couldn't shake this feeling, the familiarity in a way... But why?!

Her attention snapped away from the matter at hand, suddenly feeling the air begin to shake and be choked with the waves of power rolling from the feel of Shadow's Power somewhere in the Guild. The insane strength and evilness of it rammed into her like a hammer, suddenly knocking her breath from her at how quickly it seemed to grow- eyes wide and sweatdropping, feeling suddenly cold and chilled.

Around them the underground passage ways of the Death Bolt Guild began to shake, stone and rubble lying about them trembling and jumping as everything around them shook fiercely- almost in tune with the insane amount of power that Frea felt from Shadow so suddenly, the darkness, the cold... Everyone else around her looked about wildly, sweatdropping heavily.

"What the-?!"

"What is that?"

"This feeling... The immensity of this Magic, its insane..!"

"Is this... The power of Shadow?"

Her body went rigid, suddenly feeling something else flare on the edge of her senses, her eyes locked to the ground. In her mind, the feeling of all this.. It was all empty, cold swirling black. The deathly clutches of immense shadow and evil Energy... But suddenly something else popped up out of seemingly nowhere. Something old, something powerful... Something white. Light, and pure... Familiar.

Her eyes went wide as her wild and spread out thoughts suddenly started to click together quickly, even despite her pain, her exhaustion, her own emotions running wild, though she hid them- suddenly things started to make more sense, and her heart began to race.

She had heard those words before- and now she remembered where. In an ancient tome she had managed to scrounge up in the earlier days of being in the Guild- an item she was faintly sure sat amongst the piles of books on her desk at Fairy Hills now. She had spent a great amount of her earlier time in the Guild trying to understand more about the two Demons trapped away inside of her- though hardly anything had ever been written or recorded, as old as they were, and their ever mysterious creator, Zeref.

There are two halves, of a single whole. And that is how it had always been. One does not exist without the other, they remain as a balance on a scale forged long, long ago.

She had always been faintly aware of this herself, knowing there was a reason Shadow existed the same as Winter did... One light, the other dark. They completed one another, and they always had, and always would.

If Shadow is here... Then...!

That boy...

The ground and tunnels about them continued to shake violently a few more moments, as Frea suddenly jumped to her feet, eyes narrowed and sweatdropping heavily- a sudden rush of light and energy seeming to stir inside of her. Everyone jumped slightly at how fast she moved, eyes wide and expressions confused as to why she looked so serious all of the sudden- not missing the sudden light of understanding in her silver eyes.

"Frea?" Wendy and Carla questioned immediately.

"What's up with you?" Laxus grumbled, eyebrow quirked at the unhappy expression pulling at her features- and the sudden air of urgency coming from her. Frea didn't take any time to answer, her silver gaze sweeping about them quickly, focused entirely on something else as her first clenched at her sides.

"Jynx!" She snapped loudly, catching them off guard at the venom and commanding way in which her voice suddenly became. They blinked, a little confused as to why she was yelling the ghosts name at all-

In a haze of purple, the very tired and tense looking figure of Jynx appeared in front of the Energy Dragon Slayer, looking wary. Her arm was blackened and looked to be crumbling away into pieces, like she had been hit- but how? She was a freaking ghost, wasn't she?

Frea didn't seem at all concerned with Jynx's haggard appearance at all, and the black haired girl blinked at the Energy Dragon Slayer, seemingly expectant.

"You are aware of what sleeps here?" Jynx said lowly, cutting off Frea before she could say anything else.

"No shit." Frea hissed lowly, voice dripping in clear dislike for the ghost. "Can you get to Moon?" She asked and Jynx blinked,

"No... Shadow is blocking me from the room now, I have been trying to return there for some time now." The ghost girl relented lowly, looking unhappy. Frea hissed, sweatdropping slightly before letting out a low growl. If that wasn't going to work... Her hand swung forward, letting the back of it face the ghost girl, silver eyes blazing in a fire unlike any other.

"Take this damned thing off!" She snapped, on her skin remaining the black crescent moon mark- which, now as they thought on it- was why her Magic hadn't appeared, while they felt her Magic Pressure had.

"What do you plan-?" Jynx replied lowly, red eyes narrowed to slits. Frea's face grew all the more furious, silver eyes glinting angrily.

"Now!" She snapped, Jynx sighed heavily, before drawing her index finger across the air before her- and the Magic Limiter faded from Frea's skin.

"Hey! You ain't fighting anybody Silver!" Gajeel snapped immediately,

"You can't be using Magic, Frea!" Wendy warned immediately,

"What the hell are you doing?" Laxus growled, sending a small glare at Jynx. His eyes locked to Frea again, "We're not letting you go after anyone, I told you that before we left, woman." He growled, tone slightly warning.

"That's not it." Frea muttered, eyes closing as she clasped her hands in front of her. "Even if I wanted to, we're too far for me to do anything I'd like... But I get it now. And I need my Magic for this at least." She muttered, tone firm and leaving no room for argument- though they seemed ready to do so. They weren't about to let her start using Magic willy nilly and running around like an idiot- didn't matter if Shadow was there, or things seemed to be getting worse. She was half dead already, and they didn't want her to get more hurt than she already was- though she wasn't making it easy. And they were a little miffed too- that Jynx had taken the Limiter off with so little argument on the matter.

They stared, eyes narrowed and trying very hard to understand what Frea was doing, and what had caused her to jump into action so quickly. It was almost like she suddenly knew more than they did, but how?!

"... Tch... I've never been... Good at this..." She hissed under her breath, sweatdropping slightly. They could feel her Magic rise, though softly, and not very much at all- it wasn't some insane, complex spell. But what?

"What the hell are you tryin' to do?" Gajeel snapped lowly,

"What the hell is going on? You mind sharing with the class?" Uno muttered bluntly, paws crossing over her chest.

"I didn't think the Guild could win, against Shadow." Frea admitted quietly, catching them off guard. "... I didn't think anybody could beat her, I couldn't manage it with the help of Winter... She survived that, and how powerful she is now, from what I can feel... Her strength is stifling." They stiffened slightly, she still didn't open her eyes- the Death Bolt Guild around them suddenly stopped shaking under their feet. "I didn't think we could win... But I think I know how we can."

They blinked in shock, eyes wide.

"What?"

"How?"

"What you said, Carla- I've heard those words before." Frea murmured, "It was something old... Something cryptic and vague, but I think I get it now. There are two halves- two forces, and they exist together."

"But... What two forces..?" Wendy murmured,

"Shadow embodies darkness, and pure evil... But she was countered with light and pureness itself, innocence and good." Frea murmured, Jynx's eyes grew wide, sweatdropping slightly.

"... They exist together, always. One doesn't survive without the other..." The ghost girl breathed, "Energy Dragon, you mean to say that the other power is here..?" She asked and Frea nodded.

"Other power..?" Iki and Uno mujred in unison,

"Yer saying there's something else around, that's supposed to be able to beat Shadow...?" Gajeel huffed, "I'm not really getting any of this, Silver." He mumbled, they were all still a little confused- and rather unsure. It would seem they were missing something that both Frea and Jynx seemed to get.

"Its complicated... And its a theory." Frea replied softly, "But... Its the best choice we have right now... Which is why, I need to be able to... Get in contact... With..."

"Contact...?"

Damn it... I can't... I can't find...

She stiffened slightly, not liking this sensation at all- she felt suddenly vulnerable and out in the open, and she winced slightly in pain. This Magic had never come easy to her, even long before she had put that Seal on her mind... She'd never been able to use it effectively, but she had to do her best.

Shadow would kill everyone, she knew that to be the one truth about all of this. She couldn't let that happen, especially not to Fairy Tail, not to Moon... Everyone had to come home safe.

I have to... Do this damn it...!

Her body grew rigid, suddenly feeling a great strain start pulling at her body as she continued to push that Magic- it was harder than it should have been, and she hated that- and only grew more agitated.

Her eyes snapped open, her Magic flaring around her in small, faint waves of silver circling her feet, feeling her Magic ram into them suddenly- as her eyes locked to the roof over their heads, fists clenching at her sides as her Magic continued to flow continually, though she seemed to be struggling. Everyone blinked, still lost as to what she was..?

"LILY?!" Her shout echoed across the room loudly, sharp and steely- they jumped back in utter shock, her voice so loud and somewhat off putting- as they stared in complete and utter shock.

Her voice ran through their heads, not just their ears.

The other members of Fairy Tail fighting inside of Death Bolt all came to a sudden stand still, eyes wide and sweatdropping heavily at the all too familiar voice racing through their minds- and a voice they had never once heard through Telepathic Communication at all. They had thought she couldn't use such Magic-?!

"Frea?!"

"The hell?! How are you able to use this?!"

"I thought Mind Related Magic didn't work on you?!"

Her fists clenching a little, sweatdropping at their voices suddenly running through her head- and rather hating the feel of it. She didn't like this Magic... At all. But for now she ignored their voices- only looking for one, she hadn't enough skill nor control with this sort of Magic to single him out on his own, and instead she was sending her thoughts out to everyone in the Guild
without meaning to.

"Pantherlily!" She snapped again, growling a little as she pushed the Magic as far as she could- trying her hardest to break past the block that seemed to be keeping her at bay. Those around her blinked, very confused as to why she was yelling the black tom-cats name. He had to answer, she couldn't get anywhere close to Moon's mind- to which she had been aiming for. If what Gajeel said was right, and Lily was with Moon- he was her best chance for now.

"Why do you wanna talk to Lily?"

"What are you planning?"

"The Telepathic Link has been blocked off for a long while now, Frea... I'm not sure you can..."

"It has to work! I'm gonna make it work damn it!" Frea snapped coldly, causing Mira to trail off. Her Magic flared a little brighter, hair shifting slightly as everyone around her stiffened slightly, looking a little less than thrilled that she was using Magic at all.

"You shouldn't be here, brat!" Master's voice reached her then, sounding furious and almost unbearably loud in her mind- she flinched at it, feeling the ache in her head grow worse. "Why that brat of a grandson let you come is beyond me, stop this foolishness at once! You are in no condition to be using Magic of any sort!" Frea hissed,

"The Old Man is right, you know." Gray grumbled,

"You already hurt enough as it is, Teach.." Chase murmured, her eyes fell closed again- still forcing the Telepathic Link, battling against the swath of Magic holding it back as she did her best to lock on to Lily. Her teeth gritted, sweatdropping slightly at the flurry of voices in her head- all of them making the pain rushing through her head worse, making her already frayed and strained mind stretch all the more, as her concentration and Magic struggled desperately to keep going.

She hated this... Hated having people in her head... Damn that Hikien Bastard... How dare...

"Everyone, shut it for a minute!" She snapped loudly, her suddenly commanding tone causing the murmuring to cease- much to her relief. "I'm not at all good with this sort of Magic, and you all are not helping... Just please, yell at me later! I have to talk to Lily, he's with Moon- and they are in the most danger! Jynx told you there was a Darkness here, but what you don't realize is what that Darkness actually is! If I don't manage to get in touch with Lily- they are going to die! And then the rest of the Guild is definitely next!"

"... What do you mean?"

"We're wasting time, just trust me and let me focus!" She replied curtly, sensing that everyone had frown tense, and she could tell they all had a lot of questions. She could feel tenseness sparking in the air from the whole of Fairy Tail spread about Death Bolt, she could feel their confusion and the seriousness it was so heavy. "A few minutes of silence- enough to let me reach Lily! That is all I am asking!"

"... You got it, Frea."

"Do what you can, but please- do not push yourself too hard." Master mumbled, sounding hesitant and rather unhappy, as well as a little worried. She sighed internally, relieved they had given in so easily. She would have to thank them all for that later... As well as surely explain everything, once they made it out of this.

Let this work, please... Her magic flared up stronger, the dim around them suddenly battled by bright silver as it swirled about her feet. Those around her stiffened slightly, tense and looking serious.

"Lily!"


"LILY!"

His eyes snapped open, sweatdropping heavily and eyes growing wide in horror as Moon suddenly appeared between himself and the onslaught of Shadow Magic coming toward him. Time itself seemed to slow down as he watched on helplessly, seeing the attacks nearing her as she faced them, her paws held out on either side of her, pale blue eyes glinting in fear and steadfast determination.

"What are you doing?!" He yelled, his heart plummeting. "You can't! Those attacks will kill you! Moon!"

"Nobody else is going to die for me!" She snapped back, her voice resolute, and so strong and firm it caught him off guard. Despite how wounded she was, despite how much pain she was in and how hard it was to move at all- still she had planted herself in front of him like a shield without any hesitation.

"No one is dying for me! Not ever again!"

"MOON!"

Everything exploded around them, the room shaking to its core, the floor suddenly littered with deep cracks and crevices that ran along its entire length. Bits and pieces of the roof crumbled to the ground below, tables rendered nothing but splinters- lamps crashing around them and near all light suddenly destroyed in pitch black darkness.

Lily was thrown across the room by the sheer force of insane pressure that rendered from the attack, yelling in pain as he smashed into the floor and then piles of rubble- his body bouncing painfully. He lost sight of Moon entirely in the deep black cloud of Shadow Magic that engulfed the area she had been in- he saw Happy ram into a wall with a loud smack from the corner of his eye, his vision blurring and blackened on the edges from pain and blood loss.

But his mind raced in terror, looking about wildly as his heart thumped in his chest, feeling a deep cold lump in the pits of his stomach. Moon got hit by that, she took the brunt of that attack... It was so powerful, she couldn't have managed to.. To survive that..!

"Moon!" He yelled, voice sounding hoarse as he struggled to try and sit up, arms trembling furiously.

"Hmm...?" Shadow hummed lowly, red eyes narrowed and glinting. Her beastly form overlooking the cloud of shadow and dust that was still attempting to settle, a frown pulling at her lips.

Lily took in a breath of air he hadn't known he had been holding, eyes wide and astounded to see Moon's form as the cloud began to clear. She was on her knees, arms propping her body up as she panted and gasped for air, fur singed and bleeding in a few more places than before, looking the ever more ragged- but alive, and a lot less wounded than he had been expecting.

On the stone floor around her paws, etched into the stone by Magic was a line of Runes he knew nothing of- or what they said. They glowed faintly in gold a few moments, Moon still gasping for air and a steady drip of blood falling from the edge of her mouth. But how... How did she..?! She couldn't have had hardly any Magic left, let alone any strength with the state she was in- yet she had managed to shield herself some how, and stop the full force of the attack?

His eyes widened, utterly astounded... He knew in his heart Moon was strong... He just hadn't realized...

"No one is dying for me!"

Her determination... It was so strong...

"So you managed to block it with those Runes, Moony?" Shadow grumbled lowly, her tone bordering a low growl. "That's rather impressive for you..." Moon hissed in pain, struggling to try and sit up.

"... I am not... Going to let you... Kill my friends..." She hissed, "... I'm not... Going to... Let anyone... Die trying to save me, or protect me... Not again..." Her paws clenched at her sides, her pale blue gaze resting on Shadow's form, filled with pain and undeniable fiery determination- unlike anything either Lily nor Happy had seen in her before.

"Its time I start saving myself." She growled, eyes blazing in cool blue fire.

"What are you gonna do, Moony?" Shadow growled, "Little, weak you?"

"Anything, and everything I can!" Moon snapped back, her voice starting to rise as a sort of newfound energy made its way into her. "Its time I stood up for myself, and protected everyone else! All those who've risked everything to save me, help me- those who died protecting me, those people I care for most! My Family!" Happy and Lily stared, wide eyes and jaws slightly dropped. It didn't seem possible for her to look so strong and steadfast so suddenly- how could she? After all the pain and torture and beatings she had endured?

The look Moon wore- it was resolute. The look of someone who had finally pushed themselves to do better, someone who had shaken off everything holding her back- the look of someone who had made a vow. A vow to do better, be stronger- a vow to fight, to stand up against those who would harm and kill her. Those who harmed and killed people she cared for.

She wasn't going to sit back anymore, she couldn't. She couldn't just watch and be helpless as the people she loved got hurt and ended up dead. The pain, unbearable sadness of remembering Kyo.. Of remembering Frea. The things the both of them did for her, all the times they stood up in her defense and kept at bay what would hurt her- even at the cost of themselves. She felt weak, she was... She couldn't do anything, she always relied on other people- and it was time to rely in herself. She had to be the one to protect those she cared for now- she had to be the one to fight, instead of them.

"You can't beat me, Moony." Shadow snarled, and it was true... Under no circumstance could Moon see herself winning in this situation. She was hardly standing, what little Magic she had left and managed to use to block the blow that would have killed both Lily and herself- that Magic was nearly gone. Her mind tried to come up with countless ways to try and win- and never could find a way.

But hell if she was going to give in. She was going to give it her all, do her absolute best. She had to be stronger, she had to protect them, Happy and Lily, the Guild- her friends and her Family.

Protect them- with everything I have!

"I have to try!" She snapped, paws raising as the determination set in deeper, and the sudden flux of energy and fire burned brighter inside of her- feeling a small rush of strength seep into her limbs and her heart. "I'm going to do everything I can to protect the people I love!"

Lily stared, eyes wide and shocked at how much ferocity seemed to ignite in Moon in those few moments. It was as if her pain seemed to begin to fade away, strength began to well up inside of her. He'd never heard Moon speak like this, with so much fierce sincerity- so much determination and sudden power. In her heart she believed in everything she said she would do, we meant it more deeply than anything she had ever meant before- and it was all in effort to protect everyone she cared for. He hadn't known she felt this all so deeply... It was a sudden change in Moon that was unbelievably profound and powerful. He was in near awe, feeling something stir inside his chest at seeing her like that- as a flash of gold appeared and before her erected several lines of runes, eyes narrowed and completely prepared to fight with everything she had.

"No one else is dying for me!"

She was so determined to keep them safe, to keep Shadow from killing them... It was her sudden determination to protect them that was filing this sudden change in her now, her desire to keep them alive... She wanted it so badly she had been willing to risk her life to save him.

"Lily!"

Somewhere in the back of his head he heard his name called out, thinking it an echo of Moon yelling his name before... His fists clenched, feeling angry suddenly.

He was supposed to be saving her... Not the other way around, he felt useless. Moon was stronger than he was... Much stronger.

"Give it your best, cat!" Shadow snapped, lunging forward toward Moon.

"Moon!" Happy called, looking worried.

Moon rolled sideways, missing Shadow's snapping jaws by seconds- her arm swimming out as the Runes suddenly blazed brighter.

"Hctac!" She yelled, a wall of Magic sprung up around Shadow's jaws- exploding with a heavy boom and earning a yelp of pain from the dark Demon.

"Lily!"

His eyes widened, suddenly hearing it clear as a bell- his eyes still stuck to Moon as she used Aera to climb into the air, fighting fiercely, and dodging where she could. She was battling so strongly, with so much skill and ferocity... But his attention snapped away from that, and to the sudden voice.

He knew it immediately, and his heart jumped a little- flinching at how loud it was, and how unexpected.

"F-Frea...?" He stammered lowly, ears twitching. How was she... In his head?!

"Lily!" Her voice snapped again, sounding urgent and yet a little relieved he had answered. But how had she managed to push through the block that had been keeping the Telepathic Link from working? And how was she using it at all, Magic such as it wasn't supposed to work on Frea at all!

"Lily, I can't manage to get a hold of Moon. Is she alright?!" Frea said quickly, his mind still trying hard to wrap about what was going on.

"Y-yes... She's alive." He replied, "She's actually battling Shadow now..."

"Listen Lily! Moon, she had a friend a long time ago- his name was Kyo! She learned Magic from him, I need to know- did he use Light Magic?" Frea said quickly, he blinked.

"Why?"

"I just need to know! I might have a way to defeat Shadow!" Frea replied quickly, sounding impatient. With what was going on, she hadn't any time to explain- and it almost seemed she was having a hard time keeping the Magic going. "We don't have time to argue, or go into it! You guys won't last long against Shadow! Ask her, now!"

Lily's eyes narrowed, he wasn't sure what Frea was getting at... But he could hear how serious she was in her voice.

He hissed, teeth gritting together as he struggled to his feet, holding his torso and winching harshly at the stab of pain sweeping through him at moving at all.

"Moon!" He yelled, jumping forward and grasping on to his sword despite his pain- forcing his Battle Mode to activate again, though keeping it was proving hard. Her ears flicked, as she moved out of the way of one of Shadow's tails- eyes sparing a glance in his way.

"Kyo! Did he use Light Magic?!" He asked quickly, blood still dropping from the edge of his mouth. Moon stiffened at the name, looking shocked that he knew it at all- and why it was brought up.

"B-but... Why...?" She stammered,

"Did he?!" Lily snapped, hearing Frea tell him to hurry. She blinked, sweatdropping heavily and looking unsure, before slowly nodding.

"Y-yes.."

"He did," Lily answered,

"Moon uses Copy-Cat Magic. She must have copied some of Kyo's Spells." Frea murmured, tone low and serious. "Shadow exists in this world as pure darkness, but she doesn't ever exist alone. Moon's friend, by some power or other- his presence counteracted with Shadow's. While she is Darkness, he must have been Light." Lily blinked, mind reeling and having a hard time understanding everything she was saying- or where she was going with it. "Lily, there might be a way to defeat Shadow! And I think Moon knows it!" He stiffened, eyes growing wide.

"She has to think! Tell her to remember everything she can about Kyo's Light Magic! Somewhere, sometime... Somehow inside of her, she can find a way to win! She has to try and remember!"

"I believe in her! And you need to too! She can do it, she just needs to remember! Do what you can to help her win Lily! For your sake, for hers, and for the Guild! Got it?!"

Lily paused slightly, mind racing.

"Light and Dark will always be born together, they will always clash! Its up to us to make sure that Dark doesn't win over Light! In this situation, Moon is the light that battles Shadow as the Dark," Frea went on, her voice dropping a little. "I get its confusing, and you don't understand it all- but you guys, I think you can make it work. You can win! Believe in yourselves!"

Of course... Everything she was saying to him was one large pile of guesswork and pure theory. She hadn't any actual idea Moon would have copied a Spell from Kyo that would work to beat Shadow, but she had to try something. And in the back of her mind, that feeling of bright white never went away.

This was all complex and seemingly impossible, and yet she felt she had a grasp on the situation. In her head it made complete and utter sense, because somewhere inside of her she felt it was absolutely true. It may not seem possible, or even plausible- but there were plenty of things that common sense couldn't explain in this world very well at all. Hell, Energy Magic itself was a mystery that didn't seem like it should work- and yet it did. This here, this was a leap of faith... And she dearly hoped she was guessing right.

In her heart she was growing more and more sure that Shadow was always paired with some form of Light to counteract her evil. In her, it had been Shadow and Winter to keep the balance... In Death Bolt, Shadow had taken hold of someone, and she felt sure that Kyo was the other half of the whole that battled with Shadow. And now, Moon was that other half- in her Partner there must be some shred of what Light Kyo held, because of who Moon was, and her Magic.

In Carla's vision, she thought she saw Moon next to some young man in a ball of light. None of them knew Kyo to be able to recognize him, so she was guessing that's who that guy was- not that she had any proof.

More than anything, she knew that Shadow couldn't win. If she did, the Guild was going to get killed. Darkness would win, and they couldn't let that happen. She had to have faith, in this feeling inside of her, in that feel of pure white surrounding Moon's Energy Signature now, something powerful and old.

This has to be what's going on... We need it to work. Moon needs to win! And Lily needed to do everything he could to help her do that.

"Do I have your word Lily?" Frea murmured, he stiffened slightly. "You will do everything you can, you will help Moon to save the Guild, and to beat Shadow?"

"Yes." He replied nearly instantly, a resoluteness making its way into his voice, she smiled just slightly at it. "I don't understand all of it, but I trust you're reasoning. And I do have faith in Moon- she's much more powerful than I ever knew. I do think she can win, and I will help her in any way she needs." His grip about his sword tightened, standing a little straighter as he pushed his pain and weakness away as best he could, steely determination starting to spark inside of him.

"Good." She replied, "The rest of the Guild, we're gonna try and get to you as fast as we can. In the meantime- fight hard and win!"

"Right!"

.:+:.

Frea's attention fell down toward Uno and Iki, ignoring the confused and questioning looks she was receiving from everyone. They couldn't understand why it was she looked so sure so suddenly, so confident.

"You two- what do you smell?" She asked, earning a blink from them, and small sweatdrops.

"Uh...?"

"... I guess... Something hot, and smoky... And maybe something like... Cake..?" Iki replied, deciding best not to argue.

"Sounds like the Salamander and Titania." Gajeel grumbled, Frea nodded.

"Erza was with Gajeel, the closest group to where Moon is." Frea murmured, seeing the pair of Exceed's eyes glint suddenly. "You two follow her scent, you'll move faster than the rest of us- help out where you can. And try to get closer to Moon, Happy and Lily." They nodded stiffly, gold light shimmering about their forms.

"Right! You got it!" They said in unison, suddenly their bodies changing to their massive Etherious Forms. They leapt forward down the nearest tunnel, lost from sight in moments.

"What are you gonna do?" The question was asked by both Gajeel and Gildarts at once. The rest of the Guild still connected through the Link, Frea sweatdropped slightly at the feel of it again.

"I'm going to join the rest of the Guild." She replied, earning small frowns from everyone else around her. "Don't argue, just go with it. It looks like you guys already took out most of Death Bolt, I can still move around without too much trouble at least. I'll be fine."

The group standing before her narrowed their eyes, looking tense and rather unconvinced of the words. In all reality, after what happened with Tomaru, and now to what happened with Hikien- they were very convinced that she was not in any way 'fine'. Though she hid that rather well, they could just tell- and their bodies tensed in worry.

"Tch... We don't like it." The Guild replied lowly,

"You don't need to." She replied easily. Her attention turned to those standing around her,

"Lets go."


"Moon!" Lily called her attention again, moving through the air to stop beside her- they both moved out of the way of one of Shadow's tails, Lily swept his sword forward and sent the monstrous form of the Dark Demon skidding backward with a solid hit.

Moon's eyes snapped sideways toward him, she looked very confused and cocked her head at him- the pain in her eyes was clear, and a haunting sort of look- that came with the thought of Kyo.

"Why were you asking about Kyo? How did you even-?!" She asked quickly but he shook his head, he knew enough to realize they hadn't much time- they needed to move quickly before both he and Moon ran out of Energy and Magic to face Shadow with.

"The Light Magic you learned from him, its the Light that we need in order to beat Shadow." He began to explain quickly, she blinked in complete confusion. "I don't understand it all myself, but believe this! For every evil there has to be some sort of force to counteract it, right? A force that works to Balance evil in the world, power that balances out darkness- where Shadow is pure evil there must be a force that is pure and light, don't you think?!" He said quickly, hissing as they split apart, avoiding a flurry of pitch black rushing for them. He sliced out at the pitch black threatening to engulf him, while Moon swiped a paw forward and a golden Magic Circle erupted before her- a flurry of powerful wind streaming forward to clash with the opposing Magic.

"Moon! There has to be some sort of power that is able to contend with and even cancel out Shadow and her Magic!" He shouted and she blinked uncertainly,

"I... I guess that makes sense..." She relented, looking skeptical. "... Shadow... She was sealed with Winter, a Light Demon, when they were in Frea... So she was sort of like that opposite power...?" Moon mumbled, eyes narrowed. Lily nodded furiously,

"Yes! Winter was the opposing force against Shadow! But Light and Dark never exist alone, they always exist together!" He repeated what Frea told him quickly, hoping that Moon would understand it better than he did himself. The she-cat blinked at him, looking a little surprised by the words, her ears twitching.

"If they exist together... Wouldn't that mean there would had to have been someone in Death Bolt, who was supposed to be Shadow's opposite...?" Happy mumbled aloud, listening in closely with narrowed, and very confused eyes. He wasn't sure what brought Lily to start talking about these things anymore than Moon was, nor was he understanding them all that well either, though he tried. "But Lily, there couldn't have been anyone good in Death Bolt! All the Mages we've passed were super evil!"

Moon blinked, looking a little shocked. She sweatdropped, thoughts starting to click in her head suddenly.

"Not entirely!" Lily replied quickly, "Moon! You were friends with this 'Kyo', were you not?!" She stared,

"Y-yes, we were friends..." She replied,

"I cannot believe you would make friends with anyone truly evil! Kyo must have been a good person, right?!" Her eyes widened,

"Yes...! He.. He was good. The best person, kind and brave... And..." She blinked, looking slightly astounded. "You... You think Kyo was...?" Lily nodded firmly, swinging his sword toward Shadow and managing to graze her shoulder- she snarled in pain and rage, rounding on him.

He barely managed to dodge her jaws, feeling more light headed by the minute as he pushed on. He was still losing a lot of blood, and his vision kept blurring despite himself- Shadow passed him by inches, snarling and howling in rage and anger, red eyes wild and dark in fury and hunger.

"Quit yapping you damned pests!" Her tail slammed into him, sending him crashing backward into a wall, hissing as blood dripped from the edge of his mouth anew.

"Lily!" Moon and Happy shouted at once, he growled, picking himself back up, trembling with the effort. His eyes met Moon's wide blue ones, she looked so pained, so worried and afraid- his jaw clenched.

"Kyo, a member of this Guild- he was good, and he must have been that power that counteracts Shadow! He used Light Magic, the opposite of Shadow, didn't he? The same Magic Winter used?" Lily went on, wincing just slightly. Moon nodded slightly, the thoughts piecing together slowly. It was odd, complicated, a little insane... But it did make a sort of sense. But Moon's expression darknened, eyes glittering.

"... But... Kyo is gone..." She stammered lowly, painfully.

"No!" Lily yelled fiercely, his tone catching her entirely off guard. "He still lives on inside of you, Moon! His strength remains inside your heart!" She blinked,

"That's right Moon!" Happy exclaimed suddenly, smiling slightly and paws clenched in sudden fiery determination. He understood suddenly what Lily seemed to be getting at, he pointed a paw straight at her.

"You're a master with Copy-Cat Magic, Moon! If Kyo used Light Magic, and you knew him well- you must be able to use the same Magic!" Happy shouted, Moon looked slightly taken aback, eyes growing wide. "If Light Magic is supposed to be able to beat Shadow, then all you gotta do is use the same Magic Kyo did!"

"He's right!" Lily cut in, "You have to remember everything you can about Kyo, and about his Magic. Somewhere inside of you his power lives on, and the way to beat Shadow! That Power is in you Moon, you can beat Shadow! You just have to remember!"

"You fools really think some half-copied Light Magic is going to beat me?!" Shadow nearly laughed, lips pulled into a twisted snarl. "Its a waste Moony, you don't have the juice to pull off any Spells powerful enough to hurt me! Light won't ever destroy me!"

"Don't listen to her, Moon!" Lily cut the Dark Demon off, eyes locked to Moon who looked back at him, seemingly frozen. In her eyes he saw uncertainty and confusion, pain and fear so deep his heart ached- but he needed her to believe in her own power, he did.

"You are one of the most powerful people I have ever come across! Your heart is strong, and pure! You have remained strong and shown like a beacon down in this deep dark pit, where darkness tried relentlessly to swallow you! If there is anyone in the entirety of Fiore who can defeat this Demon, it is you!" He yelled, in his voice pure sincerity and fire unlike anything she had heard. "I believe in you! You can defeat Shadow!"

"I believe in you too, Moon!" Happy broke in, paw raised in the air.

"We know you can beat her!"

Moon liked stunned, a faint blush dusting her cheeks despite herself at such heartfelt words being spoken to her by the two tomcats. She'd never really had anyone put so much faith in her or her abilities, she'd always relied in other people and never really had anything so heavy or big placed on her shoulders, she certainly had never had anyone believe in her strength as strongly as Happy and Lily seemed to in that moment. Everything Lily said about her, how much she could tell that he meant it- it had her mind feeling and her heart racing. She was doubtful, a little skeptical- but seeing such determination and faith on their faces, that made her want to believe what they said, to believe in herself- where she never would have.

If Light was to counteract Shadow, and Kyo's Light Magic was supposed to be that counter... With Kyo gone, that counterpart rest with her, and her Copy-Cat Magic now? It was true, she had learned some of Kyo's Spells from watching him, but nothing powerful enough to destroy a Demon whose soul existence was evil and Darkness... If she searched deeper, could she really find a way... A way to win?

To save the Guild? Lily? Everyone?

She wanted to believe... She had to.

Her paw reached up, fist clenching about her shirt over her chest as she felt a sudden fiery warmth suddenly rise up in her chest, in her very core. It was something odd, and she wasn't entirely sure it was her sudden wash of emotion... It felt brighter than that, something different, something... Something strong.

Light and Dark always exist together...

If the entirety of Fiore's military force could not win this fight, or the Guild, the Master... Was she enough? Just little her? One small, tiny ball of light enough to drive away a typhoon of everlasting darkness?

Her eyes narrowed, expression growing firm and resolute as her paws clenched harder, letting her Magic flow more freely, more powerfully than she had ever before.

I can... I think I can feel... It...

"We'll do whatever we can to help you win, Moon!" Lily told her, moving into the air and sword raising before him. Happy flew up next to him, looking just as resolute.

"Aye sir!"

Moon nodded stiffly, "Alright. I'll do it... I will win!" She growled, voice flinty as her Magic began to flow more, as her mind began to race. What was her plan? She wasn't sure, she was still digging, trying to find something, the way to win...

"I'll give it everything I have! To win, to protect the Guild, to save everyone!"

Her paws swept forward, Magic spiking suddenly as a series of Magic Circles erupted in front of her.

"Copy-Cat: Rain of Light! Destructive Beam! Flash Bombs! Brilliant Vortex!"

Streams of bright white and pale gold struck through the air out toward Shadow, while several dozen spherical balls of Light began to rain from overhead, and even more began to circle around Shadow's body. She growled, her Magic flaring up to engulf the light and tear through it one by one- hissing and snarling as some of the 'Flash Bombs' made contact with her body and exploded in a fiery, white blast, singing fur and destroying some of her Magic.

Bright white light began to circle about her paws, trapping in her a blinding spinning vortex of pure light- Shadow hissed and growled at it tearing out at her quickly, before she roared, the noise shaking the room to its core as pitch black erupted around everything- swallowing Moon's Magic whole and sending them flying backward by the wall of force that rammed into them.

"I will eat you all!"

Everything went pitch black around them, sight was cut off completely as darkness blocked everything out. Moon hissed, picking herself off the floor- able to hear Shadow's paws on the ground and the tearing of her claws against the stone, getting ready to strike while they were blinded. The Shadow Magic about them was suffocating, and heavy- it seemed to weigh on their shoulders and push them back toward the ground,

"Moon..!" Happy's voice reached her through the thick black around them. "You need... Something stronger!" She stiffened, eyes narrowed and sweatdropping heavily.

"I... I don't know... What I'm supposed to use, to beat her..." She replied,

"Search deeper within yourself! That power is there, believe it!" Lily yelled, "You have to believe in your own power Moon, its there, you just need to feel it!"

Her ears pressed against her head, knowing Shadow was beginning to move toward one of them now, intent on swallowing them whole. Her nerves rose and began to race suddenly, fear clutching her heart- if she couldn't move, she doubted either Lily or Happy could, they were sitting ducks!

Her eyes shut tight against the black, trying to push farther into her mind and her memory- there must have been something, some Spell Kyo showed her, something he mentioned...

She stiffened, eyes snapping open as she felt a burst of warmth inside of her again. Her eyes snapped open to the pitch black darkness around her, but suddenly something was there- right in front of her.

Suddenly among the shadow, she swore she saw icy blue eyes appear from nowhere, followed by the sudden feeling of lightness- like the pressure of the shadow about them was being lifted, and all sound was lost on her ears.

She stiffened, eyes wide and heart thudding in her chest- some odd feeling was starting to course through her, she felt like her heart was about to burst, her body shaking, everything was still around her while some odd feeling raced through her quickly, she didn't understand what it was, this feeling.

But it felt... It felt foreign, yet familiar...

"Darkness cannot be destroyed," Moon's body went rigid at the sudden wispy, faraway voice that appeared among a world suddenly gone so very silent. Her heart was pounding in her ears, she didn't even barely breath, she didn't recognize it, nor could she tell where the words were coming from, or why...

"... But it can be banished, controlled."

Lily hissed, hearing the heavy fall of Shadow's pawsteps just in front of him suddenly among pure black. His body was shaking so much from the pressure of the Magic he couldn't even get up, or hardly lift his head- it nearly took all his waning strength just to yell at Moon, who had gone silent now.

They were still losing, and he hadn't any clue how to get Moon to understand any better- he hadn't a clue how to help her remember her friend's Magic, or what it was that would defeat Shadow. He trusted Frea, and more than anything he trusted Moon- but he knew how hurt she was, and doubted she had any large amount of Magic Energy left. They needed this fight over quickly,

"You're first, kitty." Shadow hissed, her hot breath wreaking of something foul as it blew into his face. All visibility was cut off, he couldn't even see her jaws coming for him- or her face, but he knew she was smiling. "Then the blue one, and the rest of the Guild... Hehe..." He could hear her tongue draw over her fangs, sense her teeth getting closer, hovering over his head and neck as he struggled to try and move.

Shit!

Shadow paused suddenly, her attention swapping from him to the sudden surge of raw Power beginning to shake the air- in actuality, two sources of sudden raw power. But her attention, and Lily's was suddenly pulled to the glare of blue that flashed among a world of black to her right- heading straight toward them and breaking apart her Magic as the blue light drew nearer.

Lily stared, eyes wide and Shadow growled- unsure as to what it was that had appeared so suddenly- and moved so quickly she hadn't anytime to properly react as the great flash and blue of blue rammed into the side of her face, knocking her large body away with tremendous force and a sudden roar that shook the stone itself.

"Etherious; Rain!"

The dark world around them was suddenly torn apart by tiny, compact showers of glittering blue particles that swirled through the air and fell to the ground from above them- the glittering pieces of incredibly powerful Magic shredding Shadow's Magic instantly as she skidded backward from the blow to the face, red eyes burning.

The swathes of black fell away, allowing them to see about them again. Lily stared up in utter shock, as two incredibly large lion like creatures came to a halt next to him, their claws glowing in the same blue that shredded Shadow's Magic, and their pelts running with the Magical Light, power seemingly coming off of them in small pulsing waves.

"Huh?!" Happy exclaimed, eyes wide and whited out as he stared at the two new arrivals. "Who the heck are you?! And what are you?!"

"We're here to help." The darker furred of the two creatures replied lowly, his teal eyes shifting toward Liky who blinked in utter shock. "Can you stand?" He asked and Lily sweatdropped, before nodding slightly, struggling to his feet again, slowly reverting back into his Battle Form, breathing hard.

"Who are you?" Lily repeated the question,

"We're here to assist Miss Moon." Was the reply, causing Lily to quickly glance around looking for Moon at mention of her name. "I'm Iki, and this is Uno." His tail flicked toward the other,

"We rushed to get here, and only managed to slip through the rocks in our smaller forms." Iki went on,

"And it seems we arrived just in time." The other replied, a girl from her voice Lily guessed. "Looks like the final countdown is about to begin, huh?" She smirked just slightly, claws digging into the stone under them.

Lily's gaze was suddenly locked on Moon, eyes wide and body growing rigid. He could feel incredible power pulsing- and suddenly realized it wasn't the two creatures standing beside him. There was a sudden intense power that radiated about the room, it was stifling- and his gaze locked on to Moon, who suddenly shone like a brand of pure white amongst the dim of the room- making the blue glow of the two arrivals seem very dim in comparison.

Her eyes slowly opened, suddenly no longer looking tired or even all that hurt- just insanely powerful suddenly, eyes hard and resolute. Her attention locked on him, the two new arrivals and Happy- who all looked to her with wrapt attention, surprised.

"I have a plan," Moon announced quickly, moving into a defensive stance as she slowly held her paws out in front of her, a Magic Circle appearing between them as her palms hovered over one another. She sweatdropped slightly, looking a little nervous. "I think this is going to work, but I need you guys to land a lot of really good blows- to weaken her." They stiffened slightly, as Moon's eyes hardened, and she gave them a determined look, and reassuring nod of her head.

"We're gonna win, I give you my word!" She said suddenly, "I'm not going to let Shadow win, it's my turn to stand up for you guys! I'll boost you all with an Aid Spell I know, strike her good and hard while I get ready! We have one shot at this!"

"Got it?! I trust you guys to help me win!"

They all blinked, a little shocked she could look so calm and sure so suddenly- before they all nodded, some of them smirking slightly as they tensed. The two new arrivals were shocked that Moon was willing to accept their help so readily, and didn't seem at all perturbed by their sudden appearance at all- in fact she just seemed to roll with it. They exchanged small glances, smiling just a little.

"We'll give it everything we have!" Happy exclaimed,

"I will do everything I can to help you win." Lily growled, tensing. "I promised that."

"And we promised to help you in anyway we could." The first of the strangers murmured,

"We're gonna stick to that promise." The second smirked, her tail lashing behind her. Lily and Happy glanced their way, a little confused as to who they were, and why they were there- but decided now was not the time to question any chance for help. Besides, it seemed Moon was more than willing to accept their assistance, and went so far as to ask them for it already.

Shadow had picked herself up, teeth bared and lips drawn back as pitch black dripped from her mouth like saliva, her Magic power increasing as her rage continued to grow. Her fiery red gaze switched from the two new arrivals, to the blazing white beacon of Moon- eyes glittering in malice.

"Try your best, you little rats!" Shadow snarled, leaping forward toward them as they tensed.

"Strike hard, and strike fast!" Lily commanded, his voice raising as he received a stiff nod from those around him. He swept forward with a burst of speed, the Crescent Moon mark on his shoulder suddenly blazing a bright purple as he felt a great wave of power run into his limbs, his pain numbing a moment.

"Give it all you've got!"

"Divine's Great Arms that strike from the sky's, I grant thee that lifeblood of Gods!" Moon snapped lowly, her Magic increasing ever more as she swiped her paws out toward the four suddenly advancing toward the charging Shadow- a blazing brand of pure white engulfing their bodies and boosting their power exponentially.

"Heavenly Strength; Divinity!"

The two forms of Iki and Uno swept up past Lily in seconds, jaws parted and teeth bared as their paws glowed fiery blue- they leapt into the air at the same time toward Shadow, who's head lift as they jumped just over her, fur flashing in bright blue.

"Rifts and waves of Etherious, coursing through air and space." Iki murmured,

"Clouds of power, that rend and destroy all that is touched." Uno growled,

"We call upon the Etherious rend of air and fire, gather and strike down!" They said in unison, blue light swirling above them as they seemed to float a moment just over Shadow's head- their claws outstretched toward her.

"Etherious; Double-rend Storm!"

A sudden flurry of bright blue Magic struck down in a jagged form of some sort of Lightning made from Etherion, their fur standing on end at the pulse that swept up around them as the attack rammed into Shadow with a large boom, earning a yell of pain as her Magic failed to block the entirety of the attack and her skin suddenly burned and sliced open, dark blood hitting the cracked and destroyed floor.

Iki and Uno flipped in midair, their tails engulfed in Magic as they swung down- an arc of blue ramming into Shadow and pushing her backward with another boom, blinding her a moment with the blow to the top of the head.

"Take that, you big old meany!" Happy shouted, ramming head first into Shadow at top speed- a blue of bright white from the Aid Spell that Moon cast. He headbutted Shadow on the forehead, knocking her back a little more and leaving her just a bit more dazed, "That's for Moon!"

"You will pay tenfold for the things you've done!" Lily swept forward suddenly, sword raised and eyes burning in pure, powerful fire. He swept forward at an amazing speed, his sword lift above his head and air shaking about him with pure, sudden power. He began swinging out at her, landing blow after powerful blow in rapid succession, tearing her fur and skin with all the last spurts of his power and strength put into the attacks, giving it his very all- before he swept upward, holding his weapon above his head.

"For the awful things you done, to Moon! To the Guild! To my friends and family! You shall feel the entirety of my wrath!"

His sword sung down, a blinding arc of white flowing from the blade and slicing through the air at terrifying speed. Shadow's head snapped up toward it, yelling in pain as the hit rammed into her head on, tearing at her skin and sending her skidding backward into a wall hard enough to make it crumble, her blood leaving a trail of splatter in her quake.

"Graaaahhhh!" Shadow howled, a wave of black working up around her and tearing out over the room- sending Happy, Lily, Uno and Iki flying backward, yelling in pain as the Magic rammed into their bodies hard enough to crack bone.

"You can't destroy me, you fools!" Shadow roared,

"We don't have to destroy you, to beat you!"

Their attention snapped upward, seeing Moon floating high above their heads- her body engulfed in a sphere of pure white Magic, hundreds of Magic Circles surrounding her and paws held out to her sides, her blue gaze locked to Shadow in anger and flinty determination. They all stared in awe, jaws dropped- as the rubble around them began to shake and jump with the feel of Moon's Magic rising to insane heights, wind suddenly rushing up and ramming into them constantly. It was as if she was an entirely different person suddenly, it was more power and strength inside of her than they had ever seen. It was incredible, daunting and nearly impossible.

"You've hurt the people I love too many time over! I have sat back and watched as you destroyed lives and allowed you to have away at me! No more! I am never letting you hurt another person again, and I'm never going to let Darkness win out over the Light, ever! You're time is up Shadow, you'll never hurt anyone I care for ever again! I swear on my life!" Moon's voice rose angrily, loud and clear- almost echoing over the room as her Magical Pressure rammed into them, knocking their breath from their lungs.

"You're finished!"

Shadow stiffened, waves of black rushing up toward Moon as she swept her paws down suddenly, streams and waves of light suddenly rushing downward, easily shattering Shadow's Magic in seconds.

For Kyo, for the people who had lost their lives to Shadow and her hunger, for Frea- who had lived with this Demon and held her evil on her own. For everyone she loved and held dear- she wouldn't lose, no matter what. Such evil like Shadow shouldn't ever be allowed to roam free and unchecked, it was time her vile being was rendered unable to inflict harm ever again.

She wasn't sure what this was, where all this power suddenly came from. She didn't even know where that Aid Spell had come from, or how she knew how to use this Spell now... It was all just coming to her on its own, like something had been unlocked somewhere inside of her and now it was flowing fast and free- just as fast and strong as her emotions were. She didn't even feel entirely like herself in those few moments, like she was suddenly distant- far from her body as her mind gave way to the burning power rushing through her, her power, power she had never had before. Maybe in her searching deeper for an answer she found something of herself she hadn't been aware of before, she wasn't sure... Maybe it was because she was finally standing up for herself, and for those she loved.

"Light that flows from the heavens above,

Cast down upon darkness and shred,

Tear apart evil and render it powerless,

For that which cannot be truly destroyed,

Must be shred, and banished from where it would do harm,

Let it be sealed and helpless,

No power to swallow lives.

Light that burns brightly amongst utter darkness,

Pierce through the black and shatter the evil that remains here! Light shine and bind, trap the dark of heart and let it lay still!"

Moon's power rose to an all time high, the air and walls around them shaking, rubble flying and wind racing. They quieted their eyes at her, engulfed in a beacon of unimaginable light above them.

"Fountain of Illumination; Darkness Shatter and Capture!"

A river of bright white suddenly rained down from where Moon was, crashing down over Shadow's head and engulfing her in insane, core shaking waves of unbearable power. The entirety of the Death Bolt Guild began to shake from its roots, every inch of shadow inside of the room suddenly melted and destroyed by the Light engulfing them.

The four Exceeds remained in fixed silence, jaws dropped and eyes squinted against the brightness- hearts racing and entirely dumbfounded by such incredible power that Moon suddenly set forth, power that seemed to come from nowhere. They couldn't begin to wrap their heads around what they were seeing, it seemed impossible to them- this entire situation seemed impossible. And yet they were witnessing the impossible- it was all very real; they could feel it, the power, all of it. It was... It was amazing.

Shadow's roar of pain and rage was nearly drowned out by the wind and the rush of the Magic, that was soon followed with an incredible boom. The light remained a few more moments before it began to fade, the wind died down and they could see Shadow- now reverted from her beast form- suddenly fall back, eyes wide and completely unfocused, her entire body littered with burns and cuts, dripping in blood.

She fell to the floor with a thud, her body shaking and all strength and sense seeming to have suddenly left her entirely.

For a few moments there was just complete silence, all their eyes wide and sweatdropping, minds groggy and slow suddenly.

One of the most powerful creatures on this earth... One of the oldest creations of Zeref himself...

Shadow... Shadow was beat!

"... She... She did it...!" Happy exclaimed, small tears in his eyes and a relieved smile on his face. It seemed unbelievable, and yet- "Moon..! She really beat Shadow! She's so strong! Even Master and Gildarts couldn't beat her!"

"Incredible..." Uno murmured, eyes wide as she stared around them at the destruction. "To think... An Exceed having so much raw power..."

"Enough to defeat a Demon of the Book of Zeref.." Iki murmured, "It's truly incredible..."

Lily had to agree, he'd never believed Moon was so strong- and yet she was. And he was more than impressed, he was proud and very glad that the trouble was all over... Even more so, he felt respect and admiration swell inside of him for the grey she-cat. He hissed, eyes shutting in pain as he doubled over slightly, his arms crossing over his chest, feeling his blood still seeping through his fur.

"... Moon..." Lily breathed, his eyes snapping upon and head snapping up- just in time to see her Magic fade entirely as she began to tilt, her Aera failing as her consciousness gave way- entirely spent. He stiffened, scrambling to his paws and he rushed forward painfully.

He jumped, crashing onto his stomach with an agonizing flash of pain from the bite he received from Shadow, arms out as he caught her in time to keep her from hitting the floor, with a small poof he changed from his Battle Mode, panting and jaw clenched in pain, one eye shut. His gaze glittered in pain and worry, seeing how wounded she was up close- she looked nearly dead, and growled, feeling his heart clench at the state she was in. To think what she must have been put through...

Happy rushed forward toward them, eyes wide and worried again as he remembered how badly wounded Moon was- and Lily too. Lily slowly sat up, holding Moon to him and letting her rest against him, completely limp and breathing harshly- blood still dripping from the corners of her mouth. Lily's eyes moved over her slashed and bloodied arms, even seeing amongst the new wounds the jagged, pink scars there- scars she kept hidden by wrapping bandages about her arms, he guessed.

"Is she ok?" Happy asked, stopping beside them with wide worried eyes.

"She needs medical attention, a lot of it. And soon." Lily mumbled, win it halfway through. Happy flinched,

"You're hurt pretty bad too, Lily." Happy mumbled, eyes glinting in concern. Lily didn't answer, just sweatdropped.

"Here," their eyes snapped sideways to the large form of Iki as he padded closer and stopped beside them, they blinked in shock- as his body was suddenly engulfed in a soft glow as he shrunk down to their size, in his regular Exceed form. He pulled the scarf from around his neck and folded it up, holding it in his paws a moment.

"Huh?! You're an Exceed?!" Happy exclaimed, sweatdropping heavily. Iki glanced his way, eyebrow quirked and sweatdropping at how surprised Happy seemed to be.

"Yes, we are Exceeds." Iki replied, his ears flicking toward Uno- who was walking away toward the form of Shadow, now in her Regular form, dragging the Nullification Chains behind her. Iki's eyes switched to Lily and Moon, his gaze glittering in worry a moment. "Here, lay her down- it won't be good to move her with the state she's in." Iki murmured, setting the folded up scarf of the floor as he gestured toward Lily, paws extended to help lay Moon down. Lily hesitated a small moment, unsure as to whether or not he wanted to listen to the strange tom, but relented anyway- Iki helping him to lay Moon gently out on the floor, her head resting on the folded scarf. Moving her earned a weak hiss of pain, though she didn't wake up- Lily winced, his hand moving up to cover the deep bite marks in his body.

"You shouldn't try to move too much either." Iki murmured, letting out a small sigh.

"Who are you two? Why are you here? Helping us?" Lily muttered through teeth gritted against his pain, trembling slightly with the effort of staying sitting up.

"Yeah, we've never met before. How did you even know where the Guild was?" Happy mumbled,

"Uno and I arrived at your Guild Hall, we received word that Miss Moon and Miss Frea had been attacked by Death Bolt." Iki explained softly, "We are the Leaders of an Independent Guild mostly composed of other Exceeds- The Twin Cougars Guild. We wished to help rescue Miss Moon, so we asked those who remained at your Guild Hall were Death Bolt was located. We traveled here with Miss Frea, Carla, Wendy and that Laxus fellow."

"You came here with Frea?" Lily murmured, sweatdropping slightly- feeling the anger he was sure the Guild felt all the same, anger toward Frea and her foolishness for coming to Death Bolt being as wounded as she was. And then confusion and anger toward Laxus- who let her come, what was he thinking?!

"And Wendy and Carla?" Happy mumbled, Iki nodded. What were they thinking too?

"We split off from them not long ago, and rushed here after dispatching a man named Hikien." Iki went on, Happy and Lily blinked in shock at the name. "We also passed many of your Guild outside the collapsed entrance, they should be nearly finished with the rest of Death Bolt- and looking for a way to clear the rubble."

"You said you defeated Hikien?" Lily asked,

"Collectively, not on our own."

"What of the rest of the Guild? Last I knew- my Partner was battling with Hikien." Lily murmured, "Did you see him? Was he alright?"

"That Gajeel fellow, correct?" Iki asked, Lily nodded. "He had been separated from your group, and was battling Hikien when we ran into them. He's alright, injured but he should be fine- he was with Miss Frea and the others when we left." Lily let out a small sigh of relief,

"That Hikien guy... He didn't hurt you guys, did he?" Happy mumbled, "You know... He didn't manage to hurt Frea right? She was already hurt enough.."

Iki seemed to tense a little at the question, sweatdropping slightly as his eyes fell away from them a moment. They blinked in slight worry at the reaction, hearts jumping slightly.

"... He... He didn't touch her." Iki replied lowly, Lily stared. Happy just blinked, a little relieved by unsure why Iki seemed tense. Lily felt his heart clench, and he sweatdropped slightly.

Frea was using Telepathy...

"I hope Wendy gets here soon, the rest of the Guild too." Happy mumbled, taking a seat and letting out a weary sigh, his eyes glittering in concern as he glanced to Lily and Moon. "We could really use her Healing Magic right now..."

"Lily!?"

Lily stiffened slightly, suddenly hearing Frea's voice break into his thoughts again.

"Are you guys alright? What's going on?" She asked quickly, sounding out of breath and exhausted- though still urgent. Beside him, Happy and Iki stiffened slightly, eyes wide as Frea's voice managed to break into their thoughts as well.

"Yeah, the whole place just started shaking!" Natsu broke in,

"And such incredibly powerful Magic, too..." Erza grumbled,

"F-Frea...?!" Happy stammered, but was ignored.

"Happy?! You alright buddy?!" Natsu yelled, he was ignored as well.

"Its done... Moon did it, she beat Shadow." Lily replied lowly, "She's unconscious now... She's in bad shape, and needs medical attention. Soon."

"Damn it..." Frea hissed lowly,

"Lily, its Wendy! We're on our way to you now, we're moving as fast as we can." Wendy's voice broke through,

"Is anyone else seriously wounded?" Carla's voice broke in,

"Lily's hurt pretty bad too." Happy explained before Lily could reply,

"What?! Lily?!" Gajeel's voice snapped,

"I'm fine, Gajeel. I'll live..." Lily replied lowly,

"And what about Shadow?" Laxus' voice asked lowly,

"She's alive... But I don't think she's going to be able to hurt anyone, ever again." Lily replied,

"Hold on guys, we'll be there soon." Frea murmured, they all murmured a small 'alright'.

Iki moved away toward Uno, starting to work to help his sibling to set the chains on Shadow's wrists, while Happy's eyes fell closed, and Lily let his head hang, jaw clenched in pain and eyes halfway closed, fixed to the floor.

"We won..." Happy mumbled under his breath, "But... Everyone got really hurt... Moon..." Lily stiffened,

Yes they won, but it didn't feel like a victory.


Shadow's Energy Signature, it lost nearly every ounce of its potency... Like all her Power was suddenly destroyed... And with it, the deep and heavy weight on the air around her suddenly lessened- but she didn't relax even slightly, she couldn't.

Frea blinked furiously, her vision beginning to swim feverishly and blur in and out continually- breathing hard and stifling the urge to wince as they pushed on through the tunnels quickly. She didn't dare slow down, or stop- she didn't dare let herself waver or start to grow off balance, though it was getting hard to keep going.

The feel of the threat had lifted, and yet her heart was still racing. She had to get to Moon, she had to see her Partner- see that Shadow was beaten, that the Guild was relatively ok.

Tomaru had his ass kicked by Chase, Natsu, Gray and many of the others... Moon, she beat Shadow... The Guild took care of the rest of Death Bolt, and Laxus, Wendy, Iki and Uno- they took out Hikien.. She growled a little at the thought of him, sweatdropping heavily as her heart clenched in her chest, and pain seared through her head.

In all reality it was over, the fight was won, Moon was in the hands of the Guild- they found her, they would be going home soon.

And yet... It still wasn't quite over.

Frea sweatdropped a little more, eyes narrowing to slits as a heaviness fell on her heart, so cold and piercing, unlike anything she had felt before.

She couldn't stop, couldn't slow down- though her body desperately needed her to, she was in so much pain it was mind numbing and still she just ignored it as best she could. She ignored the utter exhaustion pulling at her, the black waves lapping at her vision that threatened to thrown her into unconsciousness. She ignored how light headed she was, how out of breath, how weak... She had to keep going.

The stitching along her back was pulling uncomfortably, and now very painfully with her quick moving down the tunnels. Her bones screamed at her to stop moving altogether, her muscles and skin on fire- shoulder searing in pain and agony, moving was a bitch... And she was sure some of her wounds had in fact reopened again.

The Guild was angry with her, Master was pissed at her... She could feel their emotions on the air. And it was all out of worry, and annoyance.

She'd be receiving a lecture, and lots of angry words... And she would take it, just later. Long after they left this Guild far behind.

Gajeel, Laxus, Carla and Wendy followed closely- looking back and forth at her constantly as if they were waiting for her to stumble or fall, easily able to see the pain in her features, and the exhaustion. Wendy had been asking her to slow down, and she just said no- she couldn't.

"Frea..." Wendy murmured softly, eyes glittering. "Please, you need to slow down. You're moving too fast, you can't keep going like this, you're going to make everything worse like this..! Please just take a break!"

"Kid's right Silver, the worst is done with. You're half dead as it is, and even you can't keep going like this forever." Gajeel grumbled lowly, "We get you're worked up about Moon, but Lily's there, and Shadow's dealt with- take it easy would ya?" He sweatdropped slightly, "You're gonna run yourself into the ground at this rate..."

"I can't stop," Frea huffed back, eyes hard. "Moon's Energy Signature... Its really weak, I wanna get there as fast as I possibly can. I still have some energy left, I can keep going, and I'm not slowing down till we're there."

"But Frea..." Wendy started,

"STOP YOUR FOOLISHNESS THIS INSTANT!"

Frea faltered, eyes going wide in surprise at the unexpected (and very loud) voice rushing through her mind- followed by the immediate wash of unpleasantness that came from the feeling. She stumbled in her running, skidding to a halt and trying very hard to keep herself from falling over, being as unbalanced as she was. The minute she stopped, her vision started swimming violently and her head began to pound, she took in quick breaths, a bead of sweat dripping down her face.

Wendy came to a stop next to her with Carla, looking a little relieved their rushing had ceased, but worried still when Frea swayed just slightly. Gajeel and Laxus slowed to a stop just behind them,

Frea growled, recognizing the voice instantly- and unaware that he had been able to listen in on the conversation. This Magic was seriously a pain...

"Master-" she started,

"Enough! You have disregarded my orders again and again! You should never have been allowed to leave the Guild and come here, you were told to stay still and to rest! You may not care that you're worsening your already awful health by galavanting around like a child- but I do!" He snapped angrily, Frea sweatdropped slightly. "If nothing at all, stop acting like a complete fool and listen to your Master this once when he tells you to do something! The threat is neutralized, Death Bolt is in shambles and Moon has been found- I understand your worry, and know how stubborn you are- but think about yourself, and not just everyone else." He snapped lowly, firmly. Frea stiffened, eyes narrowing slightly at the scolding and anger in his voice- and the hints of worry too.

She growled slightly, sweatdropping a little as a silence fell over them a moment, a tense silence. Everyone in the Guild was able to hear Master's angry words, and many of them agreed with his anger- and even in her sense of urgency, in her frustration and her own swirling mass of emotion, she paused.

In her own mind, she knew she had been rather... Unreasonable and difficult, since everything had started. She was quick to react, and volatile, and a bit... Infuriating. She didn't want to admit it- because she was stubborn- but she knew she was being handful and acting like an idiot, and at this point she had managed to calm down enough to realize and accept that.

She was known for being a hot head, but she was being a little too volatile and explosive than normal- and that was because she was considerably worked up about everything that was going on. And now adding on what that damned bastard Hikien managed to do... To Shadow and everything in between, her fuse was short. She was acting in a way she usually wouldn't- in reality she would listen to what Master said on most occasions. She wouldn't be challenging and disregarding Master like this, she usually gave him more respect than that- but she wasn't acting like she usually would.

'Don't do that to him.'

She grit her teeth a little as the words suddenly popped into her head, remembering the look that Porlyusica gave her that day. She silently hated that of all the thoughts running through her head in that moment- it was that memory that popped up just then.

The air was thick with pain, and anger, and frustration... But more than anything, it was concern- and it was sparking off of Carla, Wendy, and even Gajeel. She faintly felt shocked to feel just a small spark of it from Laxus of all people suddenly,

The edges of her vision darkened a little more, and she let her eyes close.

Damn it...

"... Fine, I'll slow down." She relented lowly, a little grudgingly. Her sudden agreement earned shocked blinks from those around her, before her eyes opened and she looked to Wendy. "Could you please go ahead? If Moon and Lily are really as wounded as I think they are, you should hurry." Frea murmured to the small Dragon Slayer, who blinked at the request, before nodding firmly.

"Yeah, alright- I'll keep going." Wendy agreed, "I'll see to everyone's injuries as quickly as I can!" She turned and ran off up the tunnel, Carla flying at her shoulder as they quickly moved on ahead.

"Please take a little to catch your breath Frea, before you start off again!" Wendy called over her shoulder, "Don't worry about Moon, I'll do my very best to help her!" Wendy promised, Frea nodded slightly. Her silver eyes shifted to Gajeel, who quirked an eyebrow at her when she met his gaze.

"Don't you want to go ahead, to check on Lily?" Frea asked softly, he blinked, before huffing slightly and looking away.

"Lily's gonna be fine, I don't need to rush off to see him. He can take care of himself." Gajeel grumbled, Frea blinked at him, before looking away again.

Frea sighed silently, wincing in the process- her eyes falling closed again as Wendy and Carla disappeared from view.

"Hmph, it seems you've finally managed to clear your head some, brat." Master muttered, upon her agreement to slow down. She hadn't argued nearly all that much, which was quite the change from her earlier sudden outbursts. Frea simply ignored the comment, she had her reasons for her actions and decisions- even if Master didn't agree nor like them. Nothing could have stopped her from coming here. Nothing at all.

... And yet, nothing had stopped her...

She took a small step sideways to catch herself, her head spinning a moment with sudden lightheadedness as her heart rate began to go down, and her adrenaline lessened some as she caught her breath. A bead of sweat fell down the side of her face, her hand holding on to the arm of her inured shoulder lightly and trying hard to rid the dizziness that kept flaring up. Her body was so torn up, beaten and bruised... She wanted to sleep for a month, but she couldn't pass out now. The extra Energy she'd gotten from Laxus' lightning earlier had worn off, leaving her feel all the more drained and exhausted.

Things aren't over yet.. There's still something I have to do.

She opened her eyes slowly, glancing behind her to see Gajeel and Laxus had their eyes on her- expressions neutral and completely silent. She had a hard time trying to figure out what they were thinking... And realized quickly that was usually the case with the both of them.

They didn't say much all the time, they spoke through actions not words... And she liked that. About both of them.

I know why Laxus' has stuck close, he said he was going to keep an eye on me... And Gajeel, he stayed even though I can feel he is worried about Lily.

She sweatdropped slightly, glancing away from them and back up the tunnel.

Hmph... He stayed so he could keep an eye on me too...

"Lets go, you two." She murmured softly, "I'll go slower this time around, if you're all gonna get so damned worked up about it." She muttered, sweatdropping a little more.

"Whatever, just don't pass out on us, Silver." Gajeel grumbled,

"I won't. Trust me."


The other Members of the Guild watched her as she made her way into the large room, just after passing through the path cleared through a large pile of rubble that had previously been blocking the way. Gajeel and Laxus followed her closely, still not saying anything.

She could tell from the looks on their faces when they saw her they hadn't been expecting her to look like she did- which, was kinda like crap. She did her best to hide her pain and exhaustion, but that was getting hard- she was breathing a little hard and her movements were stiff, she was so bruised and bandaged it made their hearts drop a little.

Her silver gaze moved among the members, seeing them bearing their own wounds. Scratched, bruised, cut, and tattered- but none of them seemed seriously injured. She felt a small wash of relief fall over her at the thought,

But the looks of shock on their faces toward her were nothing compared to the looks of utter horror and shock that crossed their faces when they saw the state that Moon was in- and then they felt rage and worry flare in their hearts. They couldn't possibly fathom what the Exceed had gone through, she was so bloodstained, her body broken and beaten. Her arms ran red with countless slashes, furs singed and flecked in dirt and grime as she lay motionless- Wendy bent over her limp form and hands glowing blue as she set to work as quickly as she could.

They had expected Moon to have been somewhat hurt when they came to rescue her- but the way she was in, that took them by utter surprise, and their anger to Death Bolt grew again. But even more, they couldn't imagine what Moon had been through to make her look like that, to hurt her so badly... And they realized it was nothing more than she had lived through when she had been in Death Bolt the first time.

How had they never known? About her past, all the pain and suffering she must have endured?

Frea's eyes glittered in deep worry and hints of anger when she lay eyes on Moon's form, having come to a halt not far from Wendy as she worked, Lily beside them and Master close at hand.

Her fists clenched at her sides, jaw tightening as her eyes narrowed to slits.

Damn... It...

"Moon..." She growled under her breath lowly,

... Those... Those freaking bastards...!

"Frea..." Her attention snapped to Lily as he spoke up, though her eyes didn't leave her Partner's unconscious form, Wendy looking worried as she worked away.

"You were right, about Moon's Magic." The black tom-cat told her lowly, "She beat her... But how did you know she had the Magic, and knew a Spell that could beat Shadow..?" Master's narrowed gaze fixed to Frea, a frown pulling at his lips as he crossed his arms over his chest. Frea's head had tilted down, so her hair shadowed her face from view- though the anger about her was clear.

"... I was just guessing." Frea replied lowly, earning shocked blinks and sweatdrops from everyone in earshot. "I wasn't very sure of anything, I was simply guessing about all of it... All I knew, was what Carla heard in her vision, and what I could feel myself. I knew Shadow was here, I could feel her Energy Signature easily... But I felt another one, something I hadn't felt before. And decided I might as well give it a shot."

"So, all of that... What you said...?" Lily stammered lowly, eyes slightly wide. "It was all a guess...? A leap of faith...?" How could she have even possibly guessed at something like that?! Something so unbelievable, and impossible!?

"... Shadow doesn't show up anywhere, without..." Frea mumbled under her breath, seemingly to no one in particular. Her eyes remained fixed to Moon a few moments longer, glinting.

... I never felt it before... I missed it... How did I manage to miss it...?

... I'm so damned... blind...

She suddenly started forward, walking straight passed Wendy, Lily, Happy, Carla, Master and Moon altogether without a word or even a glance back- her silver gaze locked ahead and on to the slumped form of a girl, her hands in chains and hand above her, head bowed and unmoving. Everyone around her blinked in shock, stiffening slightly as she started forward without warning.

"Frea...?" Wendy, Happy and Lily murmured,

"What the hell...?" Gajeel grumbled under his breath,

"What are you doing?" Master called quickly, taking a step after her,

"Gramps."

The Old Man stopped suddenly, surprised to hear Laxus say something after having been utterly silent since arriving. Master still felt angry with his grandson for him letting Frea come at all, but when he turned to face the young man- his frown faded, and he blinked in confusion.

Laxus' gaze was fixed to Frea's form firmly, eyes narrowed slightly and arms crossed over his chest, expression neutral. But there was a sort of serious was about him that caught the Old Man off guard, and how firm his voice suddenly was.

"Leave her be, you can yell at us later." Laxus grumbled lowly, Master blinked in shock- not sure why Laxus had stopped him in his tracks at all- all he could tell, was that Laxus' wanted him to let Frea go.

Master narrowed his eyes, caught off guard by his grandson's behavior suddenly in regards to Frea- it didn't seem all that off, to be honest... But something was different.

Deciding he'd let it go for now, Master fell silent and watched in stiffness as Frea approached the slumped figure at the end of the room- to which they knew to be the defeated form of Shadow.

Laxus' POV

Frea's movements didn't slow as she crossed the hall, she didn't say anything- but suddenly the air around her seemed to shift slightly, move, grow grayer.

Laxus narrowed his eyes, suddenly feeling as if the world around him seemed to grow just a little quieter- as if he was suddenly watching Frea walk across an invisible threshold. She didn't seem like a part of the physical world for a small moment, it was as if she was growing farther and farther away into a distance that didn't exist, and an odd feeling washed over him, something cold, and heavy.

He didn't know why he stopped the Old Man, he just had the feeling he should. Frea was acting off- anyone could see that, but for more of a reason than most people would get. Hell, he wasn't sure he fully got it- but he could guess.

Hikien- that bastard drudged up some deep, and very dark memories from the deepest places of Frea's head, and let them run free. He made her relive things she had hidden, and for good reason. He didn't know what they were, but he knew they hurt- and the mark they left on Frea, after getting hit by Hikien's Magic... Something had cracked.

He kept seeing glittering drops of moisture hitting the ground at her feet, he kept seeing her tears. She had been crying, Frea didn't cry. And seeing it- it pissed him off, and made his heart ache a little too.

She wasn't ok, she was broken more than she was letting on but that dark, sighing mass of emotion and pain was taking a toll on her- making her act off, seem a little more distant, and extremely unlike herself.

He didn't know what it was, but he had the feeling Frea had some things to deal with- and he had the feeling she needed to do them. Alone,

And he was fairly sure she wouldn't appreciate the Old Man snapping at her, no he didn't know what she was planning to do- he only somehow got the feeling it was important. And this odd feeling he got only grew as she headed toward the very thing that had earned a look of true fear in her eyes, fear he never seen in her before- it was like she was just growing farther and farther away. Passing into some small fraction of the world that remained on the boundaries of the real, and the unreal... A place where few people went.

... What is that about her... That I don't get at all...?

Frea POV

Everything was deathly quiet, the sounds of the Guilds murmuring behind her faded to nothing. Their feet over the floor made no noise, she couldn't even hear their breathing... She felt their presence behind her less and less, as the onslaught of emotion that prickles from them became a distant thing. Her attention wasn't on them, it was only on what lay before her.

Yes.. She wanted to be by Moon. Yes, her body ached and vision spun relentlessly.

But she couldn't stop. This needed doing... And a deep shard pierced her heart, leaving her cold and tense... Afraid.

Her eyes narrowed, body growing rigid as the figure shifted as she drew nearer, their broken and beaten body slumped, hands in chains above their head and hair falling about their face freely. The chains clinked as they moved slightly, apparently able to hear someone drawing closer to where they were, letting out a small hiss.

She came to a standstill just in front of them, their head tilted downward and breathing heavily, her own fists clenched at her sides. She sweatdropped, swallowing slightly and eyes glittering as she simply stared for a little while, trying very hard to quell the surge of emotion inside of her that kept churning quicker and quicker.

She knew this Energy Signature... She knew it instinctively. And she knew the other one instinctively too.

How the impossible seemed to crop up today... Three separate Energy Signatures... In a single body...

"Come to gloat... Have we...?" The figure hissed lowly, shifting slightly again, voice low and wispy- almost distorted, as if there was more than one voice. Frea stood still, eyes narrowing a little more. "... Damn that cat... Such a Magic... I'd thought that pest was gone for good..." Their head tilted upward, finally peering up at Frea- who stiffened slightly.

Her silver gaze locked with a gaze of one blood red eye, and the other a hauntingly familiar green. The girl's hair was split, the side of the red eye a pitch black color, while the green was paired with hair of a sickeningly familiar brunette. Frea was faced with a shocked look from the other for a moment, before she scowled darkly.

'Shadow lives on in another form... As do I...'

"You're alive... How quaint." The girl growled lowly, both sides of her split appearance seemingly angry at the realization she was still very much breathing. "... Tomaru couldn't even get that right... Fool of a man..." Her scowl turned into a twisted grin on both sides, mismatched eyes alight in anger and malice.

"Frea dear, you look so afraid..." The side with the green eyes smiled in a sickly sweet way,

"I can smell the fear from you, how does it feel to be faced with the very things that made your life a living hell, hmm?" The other half asked, voices changing in between as if they were two different people to the two split appearances- to which, they were in way...

Frea stiffened, fists clenched at her sides a little harder, staying absolutely silent.

"Hmm? Too afraid to admit your fear?"

"Come now... After all this time, are you really so stubborn? You know who you are, what you are... How weak you really are, did it ever occur to you why you were chosen to have Shadow and Winter sealed inside of you in the first place?"

"Or are you afraid to admit that, too? Since you already know the answer?"

Frea stiffened a little more, eyes narrowing to slits and shoulders hunched slightly, sweatdropping heavily as she remained in strained silence, her emotions running wild and out of hand, though outwardly she did her best to hide it.

Those voices, the words, the eyes... They all sent waves of shivers running down her spine, icy chunks forming in her veins a deep cold pit to fall in her stomach. She wanted nothing more than to turn away, keep away... But she stayed still.

"Such a fool... You play the part of being big and strong, like nothing can hurt you. You act like a hero, put on a face so the world doesn't see the small, weak, cowering and scared little child you really are. You've been lying to yourself for all these years, but we know. We know what you really are, you can't fool us. You're weak, useless- you couldn't even rid yourself of the things hurting your 'family'. You're too weak to defeat us, let alone anything really. Keep denying it Frea, we know you'll never admit your fear. But we know,"

There was a wide, toothy and dark, malicious smile, the ofher's face darkened and vile intent dripping from their person as Frea simply gazed at them, sweatdropping heavily, riveted to the spot.

"Of course we know. We're your worst nightmares, and always will be." They chuckled darkly,

Frea let her eyes close, slowly falling to rest on her knees, hands folded in her lap and head bowed slightly as she knelt just in front of their slumped figure. She remained close, close enough their breath washed against her face lightly, close enough she felt their deepest pain, deepest anger and deepest evil Energy and intent, it was nearly stifling, it was so close and so powerful... so hauntingly familiar she felt herself tremble a little- but she didn't move away even an inch.

"I know I couldn't beat you." She murmured softly, earning blinks from the miscolored eyes. "I was never strong enough to defeat either of you, not on my own, and not with Winter's help either... I know I can't beat you. I was happy when I thought you were gone, relieved... Because deep down I felt I couldn't get away. I've never been able to get away, not really... You've always been haunting my steps, every step of the way." Her eyes opened slightly, resting on their form calmly,

"I never wanted to admit it, I couldn't... But I know now, you won't ever leave me in peace. You'll always have some way back, where you can cause harm, and I can't have that. I truly wanted to believe that, that day- when I did that Unison Raid with Winter- I wanted to believe you were both gone, and out of my life forever. I didn't understand how you could still be here... But I know it's my fault." Her words were quiet, calm, soft. Her silver gaze remained locked to the green and red gaze evenly, seeing sudden confusion and shock pass across both halves of the split appearance.

"I was always afraid of you, I am afraid of you." She admitted, earning utterly shocked looks. "It was my fear... My haunting, the haunting I had of you- that was enough to allow you to stay. My fear of you ran so deep and so strong, even if I never wanted to believe it did- it was powerful enough to allow you one last lifeline to this world, enough to let you come back. My inability to admit it... That let you come back, and everything you've done. That is my fault." Her eyes glittered slightly, letting out a small, silent sigh.

This was never something she believed herself capable of saying, nothing she thought she'd ever admit to. They were right... She played at being strong, but she knew better. She kept her truest emotions hidden in the deepest pits of her being, because she hadn't the strength to face them. Admitting such things... It was harder than she ever imagined it could be. Saying it out loud was hard, she was hesitating as she said things, her voice low and tense- but she couldn't stop. She needed to do this...

... Even if it means, admitting things... I never wanted...

"I was afraid of you... And for that, I let you hurt countless people. I made it possible for you to stay alive, and others have suffered greatly for it... Moon, and Kyo... The Guild... And so many others... But most of all," Frea eyes glinted, leaning forward as the other stiffened at her action, trying to move away and looking suddenly nervous.

"That girl whose body you've taken over. Someone innocent, and someone whose life you've taken away and destroyed. Murdered and maimed countless people with her hands." Frea murmured lowly, eyes suddenly growing steely. Her nose was inches away from the other, hands on her knees.

"W-what... Are you doing...?" Both voices hissed lowly, mismatched eyes glinting. "Back off...!"

"It's my fault, I know. But now, I'm not afraid of you any longer. I won't be."

The other stiffened, their body growing rigid as Frea leaned forward even more, her arms coming up to wrap about their person tightly, their head in the crook between her shoulder and neck, the hug firm, with no indication she would be letting go.

"I'm sorry, for everything that's happened to you, and to everyone else... But I won't be afraid of you two any longer. I won't let you haunt me forever, I'm done. And its past time you leave."

Her voice was low, calm, and completely steady- all despite the way her heart leapt to be this close, to feel so strongly the Energy Signatures that had walked in her worst nightmares for years. She should have been shaking, stammering... Her voice shouldn't have been so level, yet it was. And her apparent lack of true fear, that caught the other off guard entirely.

Their eyes widened in utter shock and near disbelief, unable to understand why she seemed so calm and strong all in that moment. Having any sort of contact with them should have made her shake, or even visibly stiffen... And yet she didn't seem perturbed by it at all. She was calm, steady... impossible..!

How? How could anyone be so strong against the things that had caused them so much harm? So much pain and torture? There was no way... Their face pulled into a shocked, yet angry scowl, feeling something shift inside of their body suddenly- as tears dripped from their eyes steadily, though no sadness nor remorse shown on their face- just anger.

Frea's attention moved toward the sudden haze of purple that appeared in a world that had grown a dim gray around her, where Death Bolt was lost to a stretching expanse of nothingness- and the White Plane suddenly came into view. Darker than is usually was, which somehow seemed to fit the collective mood.

Jynx appeared before her, just behind the figure to which she still held tightly in her arms. Their eyes met for a small moment, red on silver, expressions neutral and saying nothing- just silence.

Jynx drew her hand forward, as it slowly plunged into the center of the woman's back as if she were made of water- Frea felt her stiffen under the action, and felt pain spark from them immediately.

"You... Little..." They hissed lowly, trying to push away but Frea held on just a little tighter.

There was a small flare of bright white beside Jynx, as icy blue eyes locked with her own and the form of a tall, thin figure with flowing pure white hair appeared faintly. Frea blinked,

"... How could... How can you... Not...?" They went on, voices blurring and muffling as their pain increased all the more- the Energy Signatures beginning to fade.

Frea stiffened slightly, suddenly hearing them let out a low, malicious laugh, their shock and anger fading entirely. A wide grin drew across their face, their chin pressing into her neck a little as they drew their lips up to her ear,

"Hehe... You may not be afraid of us any longer, Frea..." They hissed lowly, their voices cold and dark. "But now there is something you are all the more terrified of... Something deep, and ancient... Something too powerful, even for you... Something that will swallow the world in chaos, death, and darkness." Frea stiffened, sweatdropping heavily as sudden icy needles tore out at her heart, a cold lump forming in her throat. "... Something that will be your undoing, and you know it very well.."

Frea's eyes closed, jaw clenching slightly as her heart sped up a little and a wash of powerful emotion ran through entire being in the next instant- her thoughts flashing to one thing in particular, dread pulling her down into a deep swirling out of despair and heartbreak massing in her own being.

Jynx's hand pulled out from the woman's body, in her fingers curled two bright shining balls of light- swirling in black and red. Frea relaxed slightly when she felt the Energy Signatures fade all the more, her suddenly tight grip loosening about the woman's figure.

Jynx remained expressionless, though her red eyes glinted in weariness. She slowly turned away from Frea, eyes narrowed as she handed one of the swirling masses of red and black light toward the faint figure beside her- her red eyes matching with icy blue ones.

Two souls that should have been banished long, long ago... Two souls that managed to remain.

... Two... That slipped through the cracks...

Her eyes narrowed more, jaw clenching slightly as she handed it over without a word- nodding to the other figure as white light encased the ball of black and red, shining with a Magic Circle a small moment- before they both faded away.

And now where Light has begun to shine once more... To encase Darkness and keep its evil at bay...
Locked together as one, never alone.

Jynx's gaze moved toward Frea a moment, sweatdropping slightly. It was uncanny... The knowledge Frea seemed to have on all manner of things that no one should know anything about. It was almost as if she held some deep pit of obscure knowledge somewhere inside of her, a pool of information that few to none in the world had ever known, or ever would. It was not the first time Frea seemed to piece together the impossible... And she had to wonder, why was it Frea seemed to inherently know so much...?

Jynx blinked, looking away as her red eyes trailed down to the second mass in her hand, frowning deeply as she gripped it firmly, feeling its malicious and vile nature oozing from it continually... A truly black soul. Evil. Tainted.

Jynx turned her back on the pair of Frea and the other woman, the vast emptiness of the White Plane around them beginning to fade.

One of those moments that cannot be avoided... A situation tailored so Fairy Tail would face these enemies, that Frea would meet those that had walked in her deepest nightmares for so long... But what did this prove? If anything at all?

What is the significance of this..?

"... The battle has been fought and won, Energy Dragon." Jynx murmured softly, "Do your best, not to take this win for granted... Much worse is yet to come, and soon I fear." Jynx paused, eyes closing a moment.

"Of course... You already know as much."

Jynx faded away into nothing as the Death Bolt Guild around them suddenly came back into view, and the sounds of the Guild around her came back. Frea's eyes remained closed, hearing Jynx's words easily- but saying nothing in return. She didn't need to.

Frea pulled back from the hug, her eyes opening to rest with weary, dull green ones. The young woman's hair was no longer split, it remained a deep color of brunette as her eyes both became a green hue she was too familiar with.

The young girl looked up at her wearily, swathes of pain and sadness and heartbreak racing through the green depths- the look of a person who's life had been ripped to shreds. She knew the feeling all too well, though she hardly knew this girl... a girl, from what she could piece together of everything that had happened, and from her appearance... those hauntingly familiar green eyes. And the connection with Shadow...

Tomaru had called Kasumi his 'Parter' while they had been in Grimoire Heart together... but Parter was stretching it a little, it was more like lover. Tomaru's son... Moon's friend, Kyo... and his sister, Lyla.

The children of the woman who had done so much awful to her... who had... Frea sighed, pushing the thoughts away, her mind shredded and aching enough already.

"I am sorry, for everything you've suffered through, Lyla..." Frea murmured softly, her hands holding the girl's face gently as she let their foreheads touch lightly. In her senses, one Energy Signature remained... One Energy Signature, belonging to one body.

"But now... You are free."


Moon's mind was continually teetering on the edge of wakefulness and an ocean of nothing but swirling, cold black waves.

She felt like she could hear voices lurking lowly from far away, growing closer and further in fine with how close she came to waking up- only to fall back into the black.

The Guild... Lily, Happy... Those two... Everyone... Are they ok?

Did... Did we win...?

Worry and fear weighed in her heart heavily even amongst her swirling and distant thoughts, she could only think of everyone else- she could only be worried about their safety, about whether or not they were ok. She hoped dearly that they were,

She hissed, her jaw clenching at the great waves of pain sweeping through her entire body continually, her pain and the extent of her wounds catching up with her, tearing at her. Everything hurt, breathing was painful, everything was agony, her head was spinning, she doubted she could move anymore even if she tried.

Did... Did I do it...? Did I beat Shadow...?

She wanted that to be the case, in her heart she truly wanted Shadow defeated. With the Dark Demon beat the Guild would be safe, and she would have gotten payback... Payback for Kyo, for all the people Lyla and Shadow hurt... And payback for Frea.

Her heart clenched painfully, the grief pulling at her again at thought of Frea. At memory of seeing her beaten and hurt so violently and brutally by Tomaru... At seeing her strung up to the doors of the Fairy Tail Guild Hall.

Frea... Everyone... I'm so sorry...

"... Is she gonna... Wendy...?"

"... Wounds... Really bad... I'm doing..."

"I... I am so sorry..." Moon breathed lowly, pain and sadness gripping her heart. "... Everyone... I'm sorry... I dragged you into this..."

"Don't be sorry." Moon stiffened slightly, her mind managing to pull free from the black waves without her at first realizing it- able to hear the lurking a of the people around her, the blurry figure of the room of Death Bolt's main hall appearing above her, accompanied by the soft pale blue glow of Wendy's Magic as she worked away to heal her wounds.

Moon's eyes moved to the side, seeing Lily looking down at her. "You've nothing to be sorry for, Moon." He murmured gently, "You were already told before, so don't apologize."

"... You guys... Are you all... Ok...?" She breathed, wincing harshly. "And... Shadow...?"

Lily smiled slightly, eyes softening a little as he nodded. "You won, Moon. You did a splendid job, you are truly one of the strongest Wizards I know." He told her softly, she blinked at the words, eyes glinting a little as she let a small, exhausted smile slip.

"... I'm glad." She breathed, "I just wish... Frea... Knew..." Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, ".. That Shadow is finally... Beat..." Her eyes fell closed, missing the blink of slight confusion that Lily gave her.

She wanted in her heart, for Frea to know that she had done away with the creature that had hurt her, made her life hell... she wanted Frea to know that Shadow's reign of terror was over...

"I know, and you did great." Moon stiffened, her body going rigid and eyes snapping open, wide and heart leaping into her throat.

That voice...!

"Just don't let all that power go to your head, alright?" She murmured, tone weary but not lacking a little amusement as she said the words. Moon sat up, hissing at the pain of moving and causing Wendy to stop healing her, Lily stiffened as she moved- looking a little worried she was moving so much so quickly.

"Moon, you really should lie down," Wendy told her softly, but Moon's eyes were fixed on someone else.

Frea blinked from were she was settled down beside them, one knee propped up with her elbow of her uninjured shoulder resting on top of it, her silver eyes rest on Moon, looking a little confused to the utterly shocked look her Exceed Partner settled on her. She was pale, and nearly every inch of her being covered in bandages or bruised or cut, and she seemed exhausted, and strained and maybe even a little frayed- but even more so... It was better than what Moon had thought.

Moon stared, eyes wide and sweatdropping heavily, her jaw dropped slightly as her entire being began to shake with a sudden flux of insane and powerful emotion- of shock, pain, sadness- but most of all, sudden relief. Her eyes watered, the tears spilling over as she remained fixed, her eyes locked on to Frea.

Frea blinked, sweatdropping slightly at the sudden onslaught of powerful emotions sparking from her partner so suddenly, eyes widening a little to see her begin to shake and the tears start to flow freely.

"What's with the look...?" Frea murmured, looking a little unsure. "Moon, are you- huh?!"

Moon moved faster than anybody managed to rect, or even thought she could move at all. Frea broke off in her question, reeling slightly as Moon jumped forward despite her injuries and pain, ramming straight into her stomach as she settled in the Energy Dragon Slayer's lap, her blocked and torn arms wrapping about her torso as Moon buried her face into Frea's shirt, her tears staining the fabric. Frea went still, eyes wide and glittering as a sudden swath of pure happiness and joy began to spark from Moon in seconds- followed by the calming and powerful wash of pure relief. She blinked in confusion, not sure what was going on- or why Moon had reacted in such a way at all, let alone why she was suddenly so happy and overjoyed- especially after all the awful things that had happened during this mess.

Frea's hands gently landed on top of Moon's head as she continued to cry, a small smile pulling at her lips and eyes closed, nuzzling her head into Frea's torso in a sudden wash of affection. The Guild around her looked nearly as shocked as she did, quite caught off gaurd by Moon's sudden reaction.

"Moon..." Frea murmured, eyes narrowing. "Hey... What's the matter?"

"I... Frea..." Moon stammered in between her crying, her voice cracking painfully- Frea felt her heart clench a little, feeling Moon still shaking. "... I... I thought I lost you... I thought Tomaru... I thought he... Killed you...!"

Frea stiffened, her silver eyes growing a little wide at the words, sweatdropping slightly. She could feel how much pain Moon was in, how afraid and torn up she was- and she felt how overpoweringly happy she was in that moment, at seeing her. It was like some great mass of dark had been lifted away, leaving her lighter...

... She was so happy...

Frea's eyes softened slightly, slowly closing as she let out a small sigh and wrapped her arms about Moon's form, drawing her closer and holding her tightly.

Moon... She was so hurt... And just knowing...

"... Its alright Moon... Its fine... You can't get rid of me that easily." Frea murmured softly, "... Everything's alright now... Its done. Its over."

Frea's hold around Moon's sobbing form tightened a little, silver eyes locked to the ground.

Death Bolt... A Guild full of evil, a Guild where so many awful things had happened, where countless people had suffered.. Where the Guild had been hurt, nearly killed... A place... So, so very dark... And now it was over. She had Moon back, and she never wanted to let her go.

She sweatdropped slightly, feeling a flash of pain sweep through her head, feeling dark shadows beginning to creep up to the surface in the deepest pools of her now very frayed and stretched mind.

Its over... But she felt that all of this... This would be a new thing to haunt her steps. And still yet- there was something worse to come.

But she wouldn't ignore it for now, she didn't care- all she cared about was Moon. She wanted Moon happy again, safe and healed... She had promised to protect her Partner, and she knew very well she had really failed, and she hated that.

I'm sorry, Moon...

Her eyes slowly shift about the injured and tired appearance of the Guild around her, feeling her heart clench a little.

I'm sorry, everyone... Moon hadn't reason to apologize. This was more her fault than it was ever Moon's, it all started when she lost to Tomaru.. When she failed to defeat Shadow...

... When that Thing made me lose. Everything that's happened, all this pain and heartbreak and fear.. That's all on me...

Frea let her eyes close, taking in a small sigh, giving Moon a reassuring squeeze that she hoped would help to calm her down a little.

"F-Frea...?" Moon whispered lowly, a flash of sudden shock ramming into her. Moon's head tilted slightly, to get a better look at Frea's features, seeing in her eyes something deep, and tired... something dark. Moon felt her heart flutter suddenly, feeling immediately something she had never once felt before- Frea's mind.

She'd never been able to even come close to Frea's mind since she had known her, it was as if she was invisible to her in a way... and now suddenly she could feel it, she could reach out, lock on to it- but why?! When she reached forward, she stiffened, feeling an incredibly powerful mass of painful and dark feeling coming from Frea's mind, much too powerful, too heavy... what... why are her memories...?

'There's a good reason no one can get into my head,'

"You... your mind..." Moon stammered, Frea sweatdropped, eyes closed.

"Don't." Frea murmured, low enough only Moon could hear her, tone firm and incredibly stony. "Moon... just don't try to read my memories, alright? I'm fine, you need to rest, don't use any Magic, ok?" She murmured, Moon blinked, looking incredibly unsure, but nodded a little anyway, her own eyes closing. Frea let out a sigh, feeling her head start to spin as her pain and exhaustion settled in more.

... all of this...

... that feeling, the foreboding... it's still there...

"... Lets go home."


LONGEST CHAPTER BY FAR

Oook, that took me a lot longer than I expected it to, sorry for the wait guys! Hopefully you enjoyed the Chapter though! ^^

Looky, Baby Moon's all back with the Guild and stuff! XD

Follow, fav and Review please! Thank you for your time!

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