Skylar seemed to have been tired, so Erza sent her off to take a nap, leaving the adults. Natsu, Lucy and Erza had already explained everything that Skylar said, including the part where she admitted that Wendy was her mother.
Erza felt like Skylar didn't tell them everything. Like, where is Wendy? Why was Skylar all alone? Some things Skylar really didn't want to answer, and Erza didn't push her -- though Natsu certainly did, causing Erza to whack him upside the head.
Currently, the four adults sat on the couch, processing everything. They didn't even know Wendy had a daughter until today.
"So what are we going to do with the little brat?" Gray questioned. Right now, he was back in clothes, thankfully -- oh wait, never mind.
"Just because she kicked you once, when she was scared, doesn't mean you have to be so rude to her," Lucy said, rolling her eyes.
Erza sighed. "But why is she so scared is the question," she said, taking a bite of her delicious strawberry cake.
"But where's Wendy?" Natsu asked, not sure if he really wanted an answer. Okay, maybe that's the question.
"The br-- kid must know," Gray said.
"I agree with Stripper," Natsu said, "but--"
"What did you call me, Flamebrain?" Gray demanded.
"You heard me, you Pervy Popsicle!" Natsu growled.
"STOP FIGHTING!" Erza yelled, a tick mark appearing on her forehead. Natsu and Gray gulped, while Lucy looked relieved. "We have bigger concerns than your childish banter," Erza said. "That little girl clearly needs our help, and you're fighting? At a time like this, seriously?"
Gray and Natsu mumbled apologies, both feeling somewhat guilty.
"You don't have to trouble yourselves," came a small voice, before anyone else could say anything. "I don't need help." The adults turned their heads, to see Skylar standing there. She must've heard the yelling.
"Kid, you clearly do," Gray said, surprising everyone, considering he was giving off the vibe that he didn't like her all that much.
Skylar shook her head. "No," she said. "I just want..." She trailed off, her eyes suddenly watering. "Am I allowed to lea -- wait, of course I am. Good bye, I guess."
"You can't just leave," Lucy protested. "Where are you going to go? Where's your mother? Be honest. Why were you alone?"
Skylar looked at all of their faces, knowing that they awaited a proper answer from her. "She's at home," she lied. "I know where my house is, I'll--" They won't ever let her leave if they think -- well, know she's alone.
But unfortunately, just like her mother, Skylar cannot lie to save her life. In other words, she's a terrible liar.
"Skylar, be honest," Erza repeated Lucy's words. "Where is Wendy?"
"I don't know!" Skylar yelled. "Dead, kidnapped, maybe she got away. I. Just. Don't. Know." Skylar fell to the ground, sobbing, the past events catching up to her.
"Oh," Lucy said. She bent down, and brought the young girl into a hug, the others watching sympathetically. "We can help you," she said. "Don't you want help?"
"But wouldn't that be too much for you?" Skylar asked. "I couldn't ask you--"
"How about this," Erza said. "Wendy is our friend. We'll helping you by helping her. Skylar, won't you accept?"
Skylar sighed. She didn't know that these people were friends of her mother's, but doesn't that mean she can trust them? "Okay," Skylar muttered. "I suppose I do need some help. Would you by any chance know how to get to Fairy Tail?"
The adults all grinned, glancing at each other. Erza and Natsu showed different sections of their shoulders, Lucy waved her hand up, and Gray lifted up his shirt (which he put back on a minute ago). Skylar widened her eyes -- they all wore the Fairy Tail emblem.
"Woah," Skylar admired. "You're apart of that guild?"
Erza nodded. "Do you want us to take you?" she asked.
"My mom wanted me to go there," Skylar admitted, staring down at her feet. "That was the last thing she told me to do. If... if she's okay, she said she'd meet me there." But is Wendy alive? Will she arrive at Fairy Tail, perfectly fine? All Skylar could do was hope and beg for her mother to actually meet her there in top condition, or maybe a little battered up, as long as Skylar could still have her wonderful mother.
Lucy smiled softly. "Than we'll take you," she said. "If your mother doesn't show up, though, we will go looking for her, okay?"
Natsu nodded, pounding his fists. "Right, Luce," he said. "She's family, after all, which makes you, Skylar, family too."
Gray sighed. "I guess that's true," he said, staring at Skylar's awestruck face.
"Really?" Skylar asked. She only ever had her mom, and now that Wendy was gone, Skylar thought that she was all alone, but maybe she isn't as alone as she originally thought.
"Really," Natsu confirmed. "Ready to go to Fairy Tail?"
Skylar nodded. "Yes," she answered. "I am."
--
Jack gritted his teeth, staring out of the window, wondering where Wendy's brat must be. His search party left a few hours ago, and they have yet to return with the young Marvell herself -- or even her location. Maybe it would have been easier if they knew her first name, or if they had a picture of her, which Wendy wasn't handing over either of.
Doesn't Wendy want to live? All she has to do is hand over her daughter, so why isn't she doing that?
"Are you okay, sir?" one of Jack's loyal servants, Alex, asked, upon seeing Jack deep in thought.
Suddenly an idea struck him. An idea that might not work, but it's all he's got. Wendy Marvell used to be in a guild -- Fairy Tail. That's where her friends -- family -- is. What if her daughter finds her way there?
"Master?" Alex questioned.
Jack grinned and turned to face his servant. "Alex, how would you like to be a temporary member of Fairy Tail?"
"Excuse me, what?"
Jack chuckled and began telling Alex his plan to capture the love of his life's young daughter. It's pure genius, really.
