*Lucy's POV*

Lucy turned to watch Violet go before returning her gaze to the near strangers in front of her. After so much time at Fairy Tail, she had become used to interacting with clients. But there was definitely something different about Topaz and Kaze. something about the way their eyes never seemed to settle on anything for more than a sector, the way their bodies were always tensed, catlike and ready to strike or run at any given moment.

It was the same way that Violet and August looked.

"What did you want to tell us?" Erza asked.

All eyes turned to Topaz, who took in a long breath. "I'm sure having someone like Violet under your roof is uncharted territory for most of your guild." she started, "so I thought I'd give you a little advice," and then, as an afterthought, "if you're willing to take it."

She looked up, and took the Fairies' silence as encouragement to continue.

"Justice Valkyrie doesn't work the same way that the rest of the world does." Topaz said, "that's obvious to any outsider, but for those who have been in there their whole lives... They really don't know any different. Everything will be strange to them."

Lucy looked carefully at the others. They all seemed to already understand this, even if they had learned it the hard way by watching Violet react to things over the last few days.

Lucy knew that the atmosphere inside Fairy Tail didn't exactly resemble the real world either, but then she realized that it was probably an even bigger jump for Violet, moving from guild on one edge of reality to one on the other. Suddenly her constant confusion was almost understandable.

"There are things she's not going to understand." Topaz said, "as I'm sure you've already seen, but there is one thing that I recommend you are careful about telling her."

"Which is?" Erza prompted.

"What it really means to kill."

"She already knows.''

The protest had come from Natsu of all places. Topaz looked at him as though for the first time. "She doesn't want to kill us anymore." he said, "she said so herself."

Lucy took this to mean that she had in fact surrendered voluntarily in the woods. But with her injuries as they were...she may not have had much of a choice. Lucy knew better than most that Natsu was a force to be reckoned with.

"That's true." Topaz said cautiously, "but there's a difference between realizing that you don't want to kill those you've grown attached to, and realizing what it means to dispose of strangers. Violet has yet to experience first hand what grief can do to someone, and when she finds out-"

"She'll realize how much wrong she's done." Grey finished, staring at the floor.

Topaz nodded solemnly. "It's something that must be done." she said, "but she should find out on her own, and once she does…" she reached into her front pocket and withdrew an envelope. "Someone from her guild will have to show her the contents of this envelope.'' She offered it to Erza.

"What is it?" she said, cautiously taking it and looking at the black front.

"For now it's for your guild master." Topaz said, "a letter from Kaze and I to him. But it also contains information about Violet."

"What kind of information?" Grey said, finally looking up.

"What really happened to her parents before she was brought to Justice Valkyrie."

Erza's eyes returned to the envelope, she seemed to be holding it more gently than before.

"I trust you'll only give it to her when she's ready." Topaz's words were causal, but Lucy sensed a kind of warning hidden in them. "From what Violet told us last night, it's clear she has a love for your guild. I won't pretend to know how your rules work, but if she could be allowed to stay it might be the best place for her and August moving forward."

Lucy's mouth opened, then closed again. She had been assuming that Violet had been sticking by the guild because she had nowhere else to go. But could it be that she truly wanted to belong there again?

"I do know one thing." Topaz said, "There are currently members that she is no longer comfortable around." her words were vague, but her eyes were fixed on Natsu. "I encouraged her to attempt to mend those relationships. I know it's not for me to tell you whether or not to forgive someone but…" she finally let her eyes drop. "I know what I would do."

A shiver ran down Lucy's spine. Though Topaz didn't know it, Natsu rejecting Violet wasn't really something they would have to worry about. As far as Lucy could tell, Natsu had never blamed her for what happened in the first place, and thus had nothing to forgive. She was sure that Topaz's warning would only serve as further encouragement for him to attempt to talk to Violet.

"Well," Topaz said, dispelling the heavy conversation at once. "I won't keep you any longer. I know you have a long journey back."

And just like that they all returned to the room that they had slept in the night before to pack. The group moved up the stairs slowly, the effects of the conversation weaning on all of them differently.

Lucy was the first to the room. She had just enough time to peek through the doorway and see Violet with her back to them, holding her left wrist, staring at the emblem there.

For just a moment Lucy was privy to the way Violet looked when alone, before the loud footfalls of the others alerted her to their presence. Then Lucy saw the deep breath, and the stiffening of the spine, the way the now perfectly brushed hair felt neatly in line to hide her face. The transition from a normal person to the Violet that she had come to know. It made her heart ache to watch.

Violet stood and turned to face them, her eyes flicking from face to face as she read their emotions. She took a deep breath, seeming to come to a decision. "I need some fresh air." she said. "I'll meet you outside." and she shouldered her bag and left without another word.

It was clear to everyone that she was running away, perhaps still shaken up over the manner in which she had been awoken only an hour or so before. Lucy called out a "see you later" before turning back to the others, who had already begun throwing their things back into their packs.

Lucy knelt at her bed roll and when about her own packing process. She had been so sure that things had been getting better with Violet. She managed to have an almost normal conversation the day before. But now it all seemed for nothing.

And Lucy couldn't pretend she didn't know why. Whenever Natsu was in the room Violet only seemed to give herself two options, flee immediately, or close herself up so tightly that no one would see what was really going on.

There seemed to be no solution. Unless…

Lucy looked back toward the door. Natsu was still standing there, rooted to the same stop that he had been when Violet had left. Lucy got to her feet as well, approaching him slowly. She was aware that Erza and Grey had paused in their endeavors to watch her, but she didn't care.

"You should go after her." Lucy said.

Natsu's eyes focused on her, not quite believing. She knew he wanted to. He looked to the others, who must have given him the affirmative, because he let out a wide smile before turning on the spot and walking down the hall.