Is that true? Has Morgana blessed you with another chapter? Yes, she has! Actually, Chapter 7 was a little long, so I split it into two parts, and here you go with Chapter 8.

I was thinking that the story is a little slow, but soon our characters will meet, and the fun will begin! I am just preparing the ground ;)

Let's have a look of what happens in Era, while Lucy and Dalila talk in Fairy Tail infirmary, shall we?

At the same moment in the afternoon, in Era...

"Fucking Captain... Stick up to his ass, that's what he has..."

Gajeel grumbled a few more curses and threats under his breath, and for once, Lily didn't feel like to stop him. In fact, the cat was totally agreeing with the dragon slayer.

The meeting with the Captain of the Rune Knights had been a total failure. They had been waiting for the whole morning, and Lahar had conceded to meet them right before lunchtime. By that time, Gajeel was so angry he believe he was going to smash Lahar face onto his desk as soon as he saw him. The fucker knows what we are here for, had been thinking the iron dragon slayer for the whole morning, He fucking knows.

Lily had been controlling himself a little more, but even his patience was being heavily tested. And if Pantherlily was losing his patience, that was saying something.

When finally Lahar had agreed to meet them, he had been as much annoying and dismissive as possible. "I just can't grant access to a reserved area to random civilians." had said the Captain with a small, not-so-apologetic smile. "You can find the form at the reception desk. In a few weeks, you eventually might be granted access."

Oh, Gajeel was close to lose it, very close. It was like the whole corps of the Rune Knights had decided to try his temper. He and Lily had exited the Captain office slamming the door behind them.

Dorambolt, who had been sitting in the office with them for the whole time, had felt ashamed for the Captain behaviour. It was true that the whole business was making him sick. And he doubted the iron dragon slayer and the Exceed were going to let it slid so easily. If they had not thrown Lahar out of the window, it was because they had something else in mind. And Dorambolt was sure he didn't want to know what it was.

"Listen," he muttered, as they passed through the entrance alley, where a few employers had been gathering around the cracked reception desk. "I should not tell you anything about this matter, but... Someone in the Council has vouched for Cobra, and there is the chance that... that she doesn't know that he is here right now."

Gajeel slowed his step. Dorambolt saw his lips twitch in a satisfied, sly smile. "So, it was the old hag then?"

Oh my... Dorambolt sweated. Had he done a mistake, giving that hint to Redfox? Belno is going to have my head as a paperweight!

"Don't you worry." whispered Gajeel. "I was already planning to pay the old lady a visit. It was quite obvious who was behind Cobra's parole."

And without saying another word, the dragon slayer and the Exceed had walked out from the Rune Knights quarters, leaving Dorambolt half hopeful the whole business would end soon, and half preoccupied because... Well, because they are Fairy Tail, thought Dorambolt, pressing hard his fingertips on his temples, before going back to work.

But Gajeel and Pantherlily had no intention to end up with the Rune Knights on their neck.

"I know were Belno lives." said Gajeel, walking fast in Era's main street. "I don't know if she will be home, but we can wait for her. She is not as pissy as the fucker back there."

"How do you know where a Concilwoman lives?" asked Lily suspiciously. "Aren't those reserved informations?"

Gajeel smirked. "Little is 'reserved information' if you have the nose of a dragon slayer, Lily."

It was true. The dragon slayer hadn't any intention to harm Belno. After all, she had always taken his side, apart from giving him more moral lessons he thought necessary. Just for precaution, he had followed her scent one day, and found out that the Council member was living in a small house with a little garden in front. Nothing majestic, as other members of the Council had.

In accord with the style of the old hag, he chuckled to himself, as soon as he spotted the house.

Lily eyed the building up and down. Little security, but he could feel the magic surrounding the garden and the walls. "I thought Council members had more grand house." he mumbled.

"True. But can ya feel the magic around it, Lily?" asked Gajeel, ringing the bell. "Belno is not stupid."

"Well, I am glad to hear that." the two mages jumped in surprise, as a metallic, feminine voice croaked from the receiver. "Come in."

The iron gate of the garden opened, and Gajeel and Lily walked circumspectly towards the front door. When they were a few steps from it, it opened, and Belno appeared on the doorway. Her cold eyes studied the two of them for long instants. She eyed Lily's sword - the cat was still in his combat form, and the sword was pending huge at his side.

Finally, the Councilwoman groaned. "Enter." she stepped to the side, and the two Fairy Tail mages entered the house.

They found themselves in a small parlour, simply furnished, with creamy walls and high, white ceiling.

Belno gestured them towards some sofas, covered in plain, blue velvet.

"I was not expecting guests." she stated, sitting down and looking at the two with piercing, black eyes. "To what I owe the pleasure, Gajeel Redfox, and..."

"Pantherlily, madame. Fairy Tail mage." Lily bowed slightly his head.

Belno nodded. "Pantherlily, then." her attention went back to Gajeel. "Be quick, Redfox. I don't have the whole day."

Despite the harsh tone, Gajeel smirked. Just as rude and short as always, but hadn't she let them in without questions?

"I am not here for me." started the iron dragon slayer, going straight to the point. "It is about Cobra. Ya send him at Fairy Tail, didn't ya?"

Belno huffed. She could have guessed it was something about the poison dragon slayer.

"I proposed parole, and the Council accepted. But no, it was not me who sent him to Makarov." Belno grimaced. "It was Lahar condition. Cobra had been forced to join a legal guild, and the Captain made clear that the only guild he was allowed in was Fairy Tail."

Gajeel hummed. That was something he didn't know. We will have a few interesting things to report to Master Makarov tonight.

"Is that all you wanted to ask?" Belno frowned.

"No, madame." Lily cut in. "Actually, we are here because Captain Lahar sent a letter to Master Makarov a few days ago, saying Cobra needed to be back to prison for some 'routine controls', and-" "Some shit the Captain didn't want to tell Master." Gajeel spat. "And today we fucking were there, wanting to see the poison freak, but the fuckface didn't let us pass, saying we had to fill a form or some shit."

Lily paled for a second, but he was surprised by seeing that Belno didn't even flinch at Gajeel's language. Her features hardened, and she asked with scowling tone. "What do you mean, Cobra is back to prison?"

"Exactly the fuck I said." growled Gajeel, leaning towards the Councilwoman. "Here is the shit that happened. It all started a few days ago..."

If Lily had thought that Belno expression was hard, he had to rethink it. The woman's features turned to stone, darkening every second, in the couple of minutes that took Gajeel to recount what happened the last few days.

"This is unacceptable." she hissed, after the iron dragon slayer had finished telling her what the Captain had said that very morning. "Either Cobra has committed a crime, either he has to stay out of prison."

"That was exactly what we thought, madame." nodded Pantherlily. Next to him, Gajeel was smiling slyly. If there was something he knew Belno didn't like, was to be crossed. And what Lahar had done was a clear, unmistakable attempt to pass the Councilwoman authority.

Belno lowered her head, her hands closing into fists on her lap. She was angry, very angry. Lahar had unattended the law - and her orders - putting his personal grief for Fairy Tail in front of the impartiality of his role. Everyone knows that he doesn't like Fairy Tail, but I was not expecting this.

Belno knew her decision to vouch for Cobra in front of the Council was not impartial either, but at least, she had acted for good. Moreover, the poison slayer had proved to be well integrated in the guild - granted, a guild that had caused a good load of destruction and more than one problem to the Council, but Makarov's children were all but evil. The fact that there were two members of Fairy Tail at her door, was a sufficient proof that he had made some bonds among the Fairies. And with Gajeel Redfox, no one else. thought Belno, studying the hard, red eyes of the iron dragon slayer.

"I had no idea of that, Gajeel." said slowly Belno. "But if what you say it's true-" "And it fucking is." "-well, Cobra will not be retained for long."

Belno took a deep breath. "There have been many in the Council who were against Cobra's parole. Dorambolt and I have worked hard for one month, before obtaining the agreement of a sufficient number of members." she sighed. "Even so, I am not sure how much time will take to let Cobra go back to Fairy Tail."

Gajeel nodded. He understood. "Well, it was still important for us that you knew it. Keep an eye on Captain Bastard. He might try the same trick again."

"I will keep Captain Lahar under close watch." Belno hissed. She had to talk with Dorambolt as soon as possible. The more Cobra was staying in prison, the more she felt her authority weakening. A good reason Cobra had not run away yet was because he knew that there was someone in the Council that he could, if not trust, at least lean on.

"We are playing all the cards we have." said Gajeel. "I will call Master tonight. Mirajane will come here tomorrow, and she will try to talk with Lahar. Most likely," and here Gajeel's eyes glinted wickedly, "there will be no need for you do to anything. Just watch out for another move from Lahar in the future."

Belno looked surprised. Mirajane? she asked herself. Mirajane Strauss? The star of the Weekly Sorcerer?

"I doubt that Lahar will succumb to... Mean tricks." Belno wasn't very convinced. She couldn't believe Makarov was asking one of the guild members to bribe the Rune Knights Captain in such a way.

But she was even more surprised seeing both Gajeel and Pantherlily exchanging a knowing glance, and smirking mischievously.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing madame." Pantherlily flashed his teeth. "No one on Earthland should underestimate Mirajane Strauss."

At the same time, Fairy Tail infirmary...

Lucy could have not been more happy. She adored to tell stories. And the novel I am writing at the moment is a remake of all the adventures of Fairy Tail!

And now that Dalila's eyes were no more puffy nor red, Lucy noticed how beautiful they were. They had an elegant shape, like the ones of a cat, with many white rays and shades shining in the grey iris. They looked like, and Lucy found it the best comparison she could do, like two big, perfectly cut diamonds. Diamonds that were now shining with the curiosity of a kid.

"Well, take a sit!" Lucy said dramatically. "It is going to be a long, long story!"

Dalila rested her back on the cushions behind her. "I am ready!" She liked stories so much. She could have listened to them for hours and hours.

None of the girls was dissatisfied that day. Lucy told Dalila everything, to the very last detail, of her missions with team Natsu, of their guild, of Tenrou and of the Grand Magic Games. The two girls found out they had a common passion for stories and Dalila was thirsty for descriptions and the ins and outs of all her adventures.

She wanted to know all about the guild members - Lucy had only a little trouble talking about the Fantasia Battle, and the fight with the Oraciòn Seis, since now the Thunder Legion and Cobra were part of the guild. But Dalila didn't seem to mind much. "People make mistakes." she simply said, "It is good to know that they changed for good."

The recount of the events of the Tower of Heaven and of Edolas were little more complicated. "So... Erza Scarlet, the Ice Make mage-" "Requip mage." "Oh yes, sorry. Ice make is Gray, the one who strips, right?" "Right!" laughed Lucy. "Erza was in there? and Cobra too? and this Jerald from Crime Sorcière..." "Yes they were." said Lucy in a sad tone. "But right now, they are doing ok. Cobra still hasn't get over it, but he has a more complicated story... None of us knows much about him. Maybe Master does, but... Well, let's just say that Cobra is a very reserved person." Lucy spoke carefully about the poison dragon slayer. She remembered to tell Dalila he didn't like to be touched in any way, and of his Soul Hearing magic.

Dalila saw how wary Lucy had become as the poison dragon slayer was the topic. She trailed off, and didn't ask other questions. "And what happened after that? You went to this mirror-world?" she quickly asked.

The afternoon went bye, hour after hour. None of the girl seemed to realise that.

Lucy's voice was keeping Dalila thoughts at bay. And after every, incredible battle and adventure, the wind dragon slayer was wondering if also her, one day, was going to defeat such strong enemies. Maybe, one day...

The recount of the Grand Magic Games was the funniest one. Dalila was impressed by how they won, and by the story of the fight with the dragons. "Were they all powerful like Acnologia?" asked Dalila.

"No, thank the stars no." Lucy shivered, remembering her one and only encounter with the apocalypse dragon.

"And there was this future-Lucy..." "Now, that had been so strange! We all were so scared..." Lucy shivered even more, at the memory of her future self being killed in front of her own eyes by the future Rogue.

Dalila noticed her shiver. Or, better saying, she smelled it. She grimaced at the thought. What was she, a sort of animal?

"Is everything alright?" asked Lucy cautiously.

"Uh?" Dalila realised she must have seen her discomfort. "Nothing... Just... I just think I smelled your fear, somehow... But I think I still a little out of this world, and..." she trailed off, surprised to hear Lucy giggled. "It's normal." said the Celestial mage. "All dragon slayers can do that."

"What?" Dalila cried. "They can do this?"

"And many other things!" Lucy said proudly. "Well, I might tell you a little about dragon slayer now, if you want! After the Grand Magic Games, nothing happened worth of notice. Cobra joined us half of a year ago, and things have been pretty much quiet since then..."

Well, if the recount of her adventures at Fairy Tail was finished, yes, surely Dalila wanted to know all Lucy knew about dragon slayers. And once more Lucy accomplished at her desire, and was welcome with an attentive audience.

Porlyusica occasional trip from her room to Dalila's bed went almost unnoticed. She brought a straw, and Dalila could finish her soup without risking to dirt the sheets and herself. The healer brought another pot for Dalila at the middle of the afternoon time, and one for Lucy too, but the two girls were so busy, one narrating and the other to listening, that it took more than an hour for them to finish.

Dalila seemed more lively, and was listening with wide eyes as Lucy described her dragon slayer magic. "Really?" she was asking now and then, incapable of forming any other questions. Will I ever be able to do this? Sound difficult... But it sounded cool too. Very cool.

Evening came, and with it another bowl of soup. Dalila was feeling much better, and was so enthralled in Lucy's account of Natsu's and Gajeel's fight, that she didn't pay attention when Porlyusica said that for today she was going to eat liquids while her body recovered, and from tomorrow she was going to have more consistent food.

The healer let her chat with Lucy until it was almost midnight. It was when Dalila started yawning, that Porlyusica demanded their full attention. "Now," grimaced the healer, "you have been a whole day awake, while in my opinion, you should have been resting, in silence!"

"Ehm..." Dalila and Lucy look at each other.

Porlyusica didn't give them time to object. "You," she said, pointing a finger to Lucy. "Go home and rest! You have done enough talking for the rest of the year in my opinion!" Lucy giggled, but stood up and stretched her legs. "And you," the healer turned to her patience. "I have never, ever let any of my patience be so much awake as I did with you today... I want you sleeping within the next five minutes!"

The tone of Porlyusica wasn't leaving room for any complaint. "Will you come tomorrow?" asked Dalila, before Lucy left the room.

"Sure! Goodnight Dalila!" Lucy collected Plue - who hadn't wanted to leave them for the whole day - and closed the door behind her. She sent the Spirit back to the Celestial Realm, thanking him a lot for his company. With a sleepy 'Puun', Plue disappeared, leaving Lucy alone in the alley.

The Celestial mage's legs felt numb from staying all day sat down at Dalila's side, and her throat was dry, but she was happy. Dalila had looked like a child in a candy shop, asking about everything with a curiosity that made Lucy hope for the best for her recovery. She couldn't wait for her to start practicing magic. Maybe Master could assign her to team Natsu? After all, we have three dragon slayers with us... She could easily learn...

It was really late, and the guild hall was dark and empty. Lucy was heading towards the door, when a voice called her. "Lucy!"

Lucy turned and saw Master Makarov and Mirajane at a table in a corner.

"Hello! Has anyone else gone home already?" asked Lucy, approaching.

"Yes." smiled Mirajane, sipping from a glass of milk. "And how was your day? How is Dalila?"

"Well... I think she is good." Lucy smiled, and sat down. Master lean towards her. "How about her? Tell us what you talked about, child!"

Lucy recount how she and the slayer had spent the day. Well, not exactly every detail, but how she introduced her to Celestial magic, and her long narrative about her missions with Fairy Tail, and what she could tell Dalila about dragon slayer magic.

"Mh, seems like she is doing well, after all. The First spoke to her. I have talked with Mavis, she said it has been very difficult." Makarov whispered.

Lucy sighed, but she didn't want to dwell too much into sorrow. "She seems rather optimistic, and she was very curious about Fairy Tail and dragon slayer magic... Maybe this will help her recover?" she said tentatively.

Makarov nodded. "Surely it will be something to distract her, Lucy. She will cope with her grief slowly, day by day..."

"These things take time." said Mirajane. "But at least tomorrow she will be able to eat something else but those potions of Porlyusica."

"She has not expressed the will to leave, right, Lucy?"

"Oh, not at all!" exclaimed Lucy. "On the contrary, I think she will be happy to join!"

"This is good news, good news indeed." Makarov lowered his head. "At least Dalila is good. We had no such good news from Era, though."

Lucy paled. Oh my starts... In the whole day, she had not once thought about Cobra. Well, no, she did in the morning. And while she was telling Dalila about the dragon slayers. "I didn't tell Dalila he is not in the guild, right now..."

"You didn't need to." murmured Makarov. "Dalila has already a lot on her plate. Let's do small steps with the child."

"What news did you get?" asked Lucy with a shaking voice.

Makarov shook his head. "We don't have any news. That's the point. Gajeel and Lily tried to talk to Cobra this morning, but Lahar refused to let them pass. We only know that they had arrived to Era yesterday night. I know they will not go as far as hurting him, but I am worried."

"It is not right!" hissed Lucy. "He should be allowed to receive visits! He is no more a common criminal!"

"I agree with you. We have talked with Gajeel and Pantherlily a while ago, and we agreed Mirajane will leave for Era tomorrow morning with the first train." Makarov glanced warily at the demon, who was peacefully sipping her milk. "I entrust you have more persuasive means to convince Lahar to free Cobra than Gajeel, right Mira?"

"Oh, I do have one thing or two in mind, Master." giggled Mirajane innocently. "You don't have to be worried about me."

Lucy was much more worried for the poor souls that will have to deal with the woman, but in the end, they deserved it. I wouldn't want to be in their place. Not for all the Keys of the Celestial Realm!

"It is settled, then." Makarov looked at his two children. "Now, I want you to go to sleep! There is another full day ahead of us, and we all have to get some rest."

While Lucy, Mirajane and Makarov were exiting the guild, waving goodnight and heading to their respective homes, Dalila was doing her best to sleep.

Porlyusica had retired herself in the small room, turning off the lights and leaving the infirmary in the darkness. Or it would have been dark, if not for Dalila dragon slayer sight. The room, illuminated by the pale light of the moon and starts, was far too well-lit for her to rest her eyes.

Lucy had told her about dragon enhanced senses, and that was the first tangible proof of being one of the so called 'dragon slayers'. Dalila could also hear the wind rattling outside, the calls of the owls, and some voices talking in the guild hall, but she decided not to focus on them. When finally she heard the voices disappearing, and a door closing in the distance, the dragon slayer closed her eyes, hoping for some peace.

But peace did not came. Instead of listening to the silence, the night was still noisy and loud as flea market. How am I supposed to sleep? she thought, pressing desperately her hands over her ears. She groaned and put the head under the pillow. But as soon as she did, the smell of soap and detergent of the bedsheets made her sneeze and her eyes cry. Oh my goddess...

She was not ready for that. She needed sleep, didn't she? How am I going to get used to this?

Involuntarily, in her head the events that led her to that very moment started to flow.

Meeting with Mavis and Warrod. Going into the mountains. Mavis gives me a Fairy Tail guild mark. I get abducted... I do not remember anything from that moment, until I woke up in the cave... There I saw Jerome and Jean...

The thoughts of her friends, who must have been dead by years now, knotted a lump in her throat.

The bandits take Jerome, I remember... Then a thud, and some plants coming from the ground... It was Warrod, yes, it was him... She saw Warrod emerging from a crushed wall rock, the smell of wet soil and dust filled her nose, as she was still there. I remember it so clearly...

While tears started to roll down her cheeks, she recalled how Warrod had freed her and Jerome, and started to drag them onto the main tunnel. And then Mavis came, and she was carrying Jean with her...

A gleaming light of blonde hair, Mavis was lighting the way in the darkness, showing them the way.

Among tears, Dalila fought to smile. She had been so relieved seeing her friends alive, and had believed that they were going to see the light again, that they were going to survive.

And they did survive... Only with a hundred years gap.

Dalila chocked a sob.

Images of her family started to invade her mind. She pushed them away, but they kept coming again and again. Please... Not now... she pleaded, but were lost words.

Memories overcame her, as she cried in the pillow until she feel asleep.