AN: Chapter 36

Here is the rest of the last chapter that I meant to get done and post up as well. I hope it does not disappoint and I thank you all again so much for your patience. I am excited to get to the next couple of chapters but I am unsure when I will be able to get them done and posted.

Please excuse any mistakes I have missed!

Reviews from chpt 34/35:

Dragonfly2311: yes! I was so happy and excited to write Gajeel coming back finally! And also getting to that part with them both XD it went differently than I had originally planned it, but I think it worked out in the end :) and thank you so much for the review on chpt 35! I tried to make it a little feelsie when Lily saw Gajeel again lol and thank you so much for the support. It really means a lot to me how understanding you all are :)

rao hyuga 18: yeeeesss! Gajevy back together and (hopefully) wont ever become apart again! * happy dance * lol thanks! I'm not sure how Natsu would be drunk so I gave him my own spin on it, and Happy is always sassy any chance he gets so I had to throw it in there XD thank you so much for enjoying the last chapter as well! I can't wait to write more! Eeee!

Alfys-World and Poppy25: Thank you both so much for loving chapter 34! It means a lot to me that you both reviewed on it!

piranha pk: he's baaaack! And so am I! lol and yes! Gajeel is coming out of his hard shell with his feelings. And yes, all of the lemon haha I managed to be productive on this short vacation so I was excited to get this chapter done finally! And thank you for your review on the last chapter. I remember you saying you lost a grandfather recently and my heart went out to you as well. But I am feeling like I am finally getting back into writing again, even if my heart is still healing. It felt really good to get on a roll with this chapter, that I'm hoping I can get the next one done quick as well! Thank you so much for all the love you give with each chapter!

Copperreign12: Ah! Thank you so much for leaving reviews! And thank you so much for liking the story so far! :D it's been a lot of fun to write and I can't wait to get to the next few chapters! I hope you enjoy them as well!

The scarlet mares' eyes scanned over the maps laid out on the table before her. They had been marked off in different towns, and areas, with no sign of Gajeel still. After the chatter around the table coming from Natsu and Lucy had quieted down, Erza spoke. "What about Shirotsume or Mt Hakobe? Have those areas been scanned yet? The list of towns nearby is growing slimmer each day. I highly doubt Gajeel and Lily made it all the way over to Crocus chasing after Bacchus."

Lucy pulled back a large portion of her hair behind her ear as she spoke. She leaned in and pointed to the map where Lily had told them about where the cliff Gajeel had gone over was. "No, those two locations wouldn't really work. From what Lily had told us, Gajeel would have ended up somewhere between here, and Wass Forrest. But these maps are also outdated, so who knows what new towns have popped up over the years."

Happy let out a sign as he slumped his body down on the back of Natsu's back. "This is hopeless. We've been searching for him every day, with no luck."

Natsu looked over his shoulder to the blue satyr. "That's why we gotta keep looking, little buddy. Gajeel is part of Fairy Tail and we never give up looking for our friends!"

Mystogan had been listening intently as his own eyes scanned over the maps, his mind trying to recall the maps that were stored in the library of the castle. He knew they were constantly being updated, not only for the soldiers and princess's sake, but for his own as well. They did a lot of trading with nearby towns and needed to know what routes traders took or the towns they would frequent in, just in case they needed a particular item that wasn't available to them at the moment. He too leaned in close to the maps, his finger tracing over the aged parchments as he mumbled to himself.

Erza looked at him and tried to make sense of his mumbling. "Is there something missing on the map that you know of?"

"Yes." Mystogan responded quickly. He drew an invisible line with his finger from where Clover Town had been marked on the map, north of the town and in between Wass Forrest. "There is a small trading town that is supposed to be marked on here, a river flows nearby that area as well. Perhaps Gajeel, or his body, had washed up nearby that town? It's called Cait Shelter. It's not that old, so it wouldn't have been marked on these maps, judging by the looks of them."

Happy perked up at the name and stood quickly, jumping up to Natsu's shoulders and asked, "If it's a town, why is it called Cait Shelter?"

Mystogan looked up to the satyr and responded. "It used to be a shelter for orphans or for those who had lost their way and didn't have anywhere else to go. It slowly formed into a town the more it grew and started to deal in trades. They decided to keep the name Cait Shelter because it still remains a safe haven for any who seek it."

"Do you think Gajeel could have ended up there? Or maybe someone found his—" Erza started to say before she was cut off by the large doors of the hall opening.

"I ain't dead. So, you all can stop worrying bout me." Gajeel said with sight annoyance. Even in his human form, he could hear the conversation from just outside of the doors. He approached the large table with old maps scattered across it, looking upon the disbelieving expressions of the centaurs and human surrounding it. They all exclaimed by shouting his name in unison, and with a second in between, the questions of what had happened started pouring out of their mouths. Gajeel groaned as he listened to them all ask what had happened and why he is in his human form. Crimson eyes closed as the tall man crossed his arms over his chest. "I'll tell ya all what happened if you'd all shut the hell up!"

The small group quickly quieted down and listened to what Gajeel had to say. He made mention of the fight with Laxus and Bacchus, recalling the exact same story Lily had told them, only adding on his half of when he had gone over the cliff and thought for sure that he had died. Gajeel told them how something had saved him, along with Zach and Rudger finding him washed up on the bank, just off from a nearby town. The dark-haired man held up his hand with his damaged ring on his thumb, opening his eyes and looking straight at Erza. "By the way, that damned wolf bit my hand and happened to damage my ring. I need your help with getting it off so I can finally get out of this form."

The scarlet mare nodded as she made her way over to Gajeel. She lifted her hands up and around his thumb with the damaged ring and started to chant a low toned spell. Her scarlet magical aura began to form, disenchanting the ring on the man's thumb.

Lucy was first to speak out. "So, Zack and Rudger are just wandering around from town to town?" Her expression saddened at the thought. "I guess I figured he was going to stay in his own town and just watch over Rudger after everything."

Gajeel looked to the golden mare. "While we were together, he told me he did think about staying, but he also said that he and Haru had planned on traveling the world one day. So, he took it upon himself to do so with Rudger. He carries what would have been their wedding rings around his neck, kinda as a way to keep Haru in his memories and to have her travel with em." Gajeel turned to Natsu who had tensed up during the whole conversation. "Oi! Flame brains!" Natsu flinched where he stood as he looked up to Gajeel with guilt across his expression. "Stop feelin' so guilty bout what happened. Zack knows you were possessed, and yeah he definitely wants to mess ya up bad." Gajeel paused for a second as he watched Natsu's gaze lower, his fists clenching tight. The tall man continued. "But he made Haru a promise not to do nothing out of anger. I believe him when he says he is letting it go. It's what the girl wanted him to do. So let it go already and if you see him again, you best apologize to him."

"Right." The pink-haired centaur responded quietly. Lucy placed a hand on the red centaurs' arm, squeezing it lightly in comfort.

Gajeel looked back to Erza who had just finished disenchanting the ring on his thumb, causing his body to transform immediately back into his true form. The tanned centaur grinned as he looked over his shoulder, raising a front leg slightly, grateful to be back in his centaur body. "That's better." Crimson orbs looked back down to the damaged ring still on his thumb. "Now I just gotta get this damn thing fixed."

Mystogan stepped away from the table as he spoke. "I think Erza and I can take care of that." He watched crimson orbs glare at him for a split second as he made his way over to the dark coated centaur. "With some of my memories returning, I feel like this would be not only good practice to get back into, but it might help me recover more lost pages of my past life as well. That is… if you'll let me, Gajeel."

The large centaur remained silent, his crimson orbs staring hard at the man he still did not entirely trust. 'I don't want to give him my ring… but I know it needs to be fixed. And if this really is Jellal, then no one else is good enough to fix this. When he was a centaur, he was the only one who could fix our transformation items. As much as I distrust him, I've got no other real choice right now. I need this ring fixed, and I need it done fast.' With a quick sign, Gajeel brought his free hand to his thumb, and grunted as he pulled the damaged ring from his hand. The bent ring left a few scratches upon his skin, but at least he was able to get it off with the enchantment dispelled. "Just make the repairs quick. We're gonna need our transformation items if we are to get to the island."

Everyone around Gajeel looked at him questionably, confused by his statement. Erza raised a brow as she spoke. "What do you mean by that Gajeel?"

Crimson orbs shifted to the scarlet mare. "I know a way to get to the island. But the transportation is small, and I'm not sure it could withstand holdin' all of our weight combined as centaurs. Not to mention, it might be best going in disguise." Gajeel made his way over to the table and pointed at a spot on the map, well known to everyone in Fairy Tail. "While I was with Zack, he mentioned he also travels by boat to different towns as well, depending on what kind of wares he is selling. He has a small boat docked in Hargeon, it can definitely take us to the island, but he said it can't bare much weight, meaning we'd have to travel as humans while on the boat. Which brings me to the next point of why we should travel in disguise." Crimson orbs looked up at the other centaurs, his tone serious. "Humans have not seen too many mystical beings in some time now. It's not like we can waltz around freely among them. If we did, we'd not only put burden on our travel just getting to the town, but we'd also risk getting into some fights with foot soldiers. And I don't know about any of you…" He paused as he glanced over to Levy and Lily. "But I'd like to take a break from fighting for a while."

Erza crossed her arms over her chest lightly, her head lowering slightly. "I really don't like this plan at all." The scarlet mare could hear the disheartened groans from those around her, causing her to raise her head and look upon them all. "But… I know this must be done. With or without Master's permission." As everyone's heads rose, their excitement came across their expressions. Erza turned her body and started to walk around the table. "But there are some rules, if I am to allow this venture to happen. No one, under any circumstance, will transform out of their human form until we have reached the island. We are to stay in pairs, don't stray too far away from the initial group, but don't wander off alone either. No fighting is to break out while we are in our human forms. And lastly… no one outside of this room is allowed to go with us to the island. I don't need a lot of us missing from Fairy Tail to arouse suspicion. If you all can agree to the terms, we shall leave one Gajeel's ring is fixed. I assume you two still have your wrist bands?" Erza asked as she stopped just behind Lucy and Natsu.

The pair grinned and nodded in unison. "We sure do!" Natsu said quickly. "Although, I can't remember if they are in my trunk, or Happys."

The blue satyr raised his hands at his sides. "Why would they be in my trunk? I don't need those things. I'm a satyr!"

Lucy winked as she raised a finger. "That's why I took them and kept them in my room! I knew Natsu would end up losing them somewhere, so I took responsibility of keeping them safe."

Natsu's head snapped towards Lucy as Happy laughed. "Hey! I'm responsible!"

As the two centaurs went back and forth, Erza continued on, stopping next to Levy and Lily. "I'm also assuming you will be joining us?" The scarlet mare asked the black satyr standing on the back of Levy's dappled, light blue form.

"If I am able to, yes, I would like to join you all on this adventure. If nothing else, to keep that brute in check!" Lily chuckled as he motioned to Gajeel.

Erza half smiled as she gave a slight nod in response. "My only question is how to conceal both you and Happy. We can't really make you both into humans, only Master Makarov had the ability to do that. And I fear cloaks will not hide every aspect of your satyr form, drawing attention on us quickly."

Pantherlily brought a hand to his chin, pondering over the dilemma as well. "Yes, I do see how that would be troublesome."

Levy chimed in an idea, though she wasn't sure how well it was going to go over. "Well, with us being humans and traveling… we could try to hide Lily and Happy in knapsacks? They should be small enough to carry around in the bags without anyone noticing them. So long as they don't move around in them much. And it's not like we'd have to keep them in there the whole time we are traveling! It would just be when we are passing through towns or anyone on the roads."

Lily let out a sign. "Reduced to pack travel… I guess it is the best option we have right now, so Happy and I will have to deal with it if we are to accompany you all to the island."

"It's settled then." Erza started to say. "Please remember to keep this voyage a secret. I don't need any more bodies to join us on this venture."

Gray eyes opened and closed slowly, dazed and confused as to what was going on, Laxus slipped in and out of consciousness. His vision was blurred, but he knew he wasn't alone… wherever he was. The large man could tell he was laying down on an undersized bed as half of his legs hung off the end of the bed. His head moved from side to side slowly on a lumpy pillow as he muttered softly in his current state. Cold, gray eyes opened slightly, eyeing a blurred figure heading his way with something in hand. He reached up to try to wave the being away, but his arm barely left his side.

He felt his strength had left him, as the wounds all over his body began to make themselves known to him once more. So much pain, the man thought as he let his eyelids close, his ears picking up a jumble of words coming from the blurred figure sitting in a chair next to the bed. 'What… what are you saying? Who are you? Tell me… what happened to me? Did I die? Or is this some kind of dream that I'm stuck in?'

"…ow eelin?..." The blurred figure said softly.

Laxus's brow crossed as he opened his eyes halfway. "What… are you saying? Who… who are you?" The figure repeated itself and leaned in, the large man could feel a soft hand touch his forehead as his eyes closed once more. His hearing began to fade as his mind started to think back into his past.

A small blond child cried in the woods, standing alone with scrapped up knees that stung and throbbed as the boy stood in place. He wailed and wailed, calling out for his father to come back to him, but he only got silence from the heavily wooded area in response. Even the rustle in the nearby bushes couldn't stop the small boy from crying.

"My goodness, what is the matter young one? Why are you crying?" A soft, concerned voice asked from a few feet away.

Laxus brought his hands up to his eyes as he continued to weep. "I lost my father! And I fell down and hurt my knees! I keep calling to him, but he won't come back to find me! I'm scared, and I don't want to be alone anymore! Why won't he come baaacckk?!"

The soft-spoken figure smiled and a second later, a flash of light shined throughout the surrounding area. A young woman approached the small boy and placed a hand on top of his blond hair. "Hey now, don't cry. You're not alone anymore. See? I'm here with you. And I can help your knees feel better. Then we can go find your father."

Laxus kept his hands over his reddened eyes as he sniffled, his tears starting to slow. "My father is out hunting… he said he won't come back until he gets it."

Soft hands moved to the boys' arms, gripping them lightly and pulling them away from gray colored eyes. Laxus looked upon a beautiful young woman, with long white hair and a tuff of bangs held up in a small ponytail. Her blue eyes gleamed as her lips curled into a smile. "Then I guess I'll just have to stay with you until your father returns." The blond-haired boy sniffled as his gray eyes shifted between two blue ones. He nodded quickly and let this strange woman take hold of his hand as she stood. "Do you know the way out of the woods to where your home is?"

Laxus rubbed his runny nose with the back of his free hand and shook his head. "No. I don't remember."

The woman looked around for a long minute, and Laxus could swear she was sniffing around at the air as her eyes scanned the woods. After a couple long minutes, the woman looked back down at Laxus and pointed in a direction. "How about we go that way? We can start there and see if we can't find your father or your house?"

Laxus nodded in agreement. At least he wasn't alone now. Something about this woman gave him a sense of calm and trust. He had never seen her before in his life, but he was putting all of his faith into her that she was going to lead him to one of two things. Safety or his father. As they walked hand in hand, the young boy gripped at the woman's fingers, afraid that with even the slightest ease up, her hand would disappear and this would all be a dream, in his mind.

The snow haired woman smiled as she giggled. "You don't have to be so tense, little one. I'm not going to let you go until I know you are safe." She could feel his grip soften slightly, but he was still too afraid to ease it further. She waited a little bit before she said anything else to the boy. "Can you tell me what your father is hunting?"

Laxus spoke with a saddened tone. "Father says we are hunting beasts that aren't fully human. That they have the body of another creature, and that they are evil, selfish beings. He told me… that mother was killed by one of them, and that we needed to go hunt down the one that murdered her." The young boy paused. "But… I don't think he's being truthful. I think mother left because father is so mean. And, I don't want to kill or harm anything. But he always forces me out here, into the woods to help him hunt. I hate it." The blond-haired boy could feel his warm tears beginning to form in the corner of his eyes as he spoke. "Father found tracking of one of the creatures he said we needed to kill, and he left me in a hurry, telling me to keep up or remain lost in these woods. I tried… to keep up… I really did… but… I got scared when I couldn't see father anymore. That's when I tried to run and fell… and I hurt my knees." His nose began to run once more as his tears started to overflow in his gray eyes. "I was all alone, and I was lost! I started to get scared because I know the sun is going to go down soon! And I… I—" The tight grip on the woman's hand suddenly vanished as Laxus brought his hands back to his puffy red eyes, rubbing the never-ending tears away as he spoke. "I hate being alone! I hate it! Father always tells me that I'm a coward, and that I need to grow up and help him kill the beasts, but I don't want to! I don't want anything to die by my hands! Why does he have to be so mean?! All I want… is for him to stay with me! I'm so tired of being alone and left behind!"

In one swift motion, the woman had wrapped her arms around the young, sobbing boy next to her. He could feel her arms pulling him in close to her own body as she embraced him. Her soft hand went to his blond strands and rubbed them lightly as she spoke. "You're not going to be alone anymore, and you shouldn't be afraid of the woods." The white-haired woman released her embrace as she looked around the forest. "These woods are special, and protective of those with a good heart. You see that over there?" She said as she pointed to green moss growing on one of the nearby trees. "That moss gives off a light glow to help lost travelers get through from town to town. So, if you ever find yourself out here again, just look for those trees with the glowing moss on them. They will help guide you back home." She said with a smile.

Laxus couldn't muster up a reply to her words, he could only get lost in this woman's blue eyes that were full of tenderness. He watched her giggle once more as she picked up the small boy into her arms. His head leaned against her shoulder and all he could smell were white lilies, as he felt the warmth of her body radiating off from her. He closed his eyes slowly and breathed her scent in as she carried him through the woods. 'She's so warm… and she smells so good. I wonder… if she'll stay with me… and be my friend….'

By the time Laxus woke back up, he was in his own bed, with his knees wrapped up in bandages. The faint smell of white lilies filled the air around his room. He scrambled to get out of bed and headed straight for the door and down the hall. Just as he made it to the main room, the front door swung wide open and there stood his father. Night had fallen and he had just returned with a deer carcass over his shoulder. Rage filled his expression as he looked down at his son with a scowl.

"Where the hell have you been, boy?!" He said quickly.

Laxus tried his best not to quiver in front of his father as he spoke. "Well, I, I got lost… in the woods after you ran off, sir. I tried to keep up, I really did! But I fell, and I hurt my knees. I got scared and—"

"Always getting lost or scared. Pfft. Some son of mine you are." Ivan said as he stomped into the main room, slamming the door loudly behind him. The tall, angry man made his way over to the dining table and slammed the dead animal onto it. "So, if you got lost, and hurt your pitiful legs, how the hell did you get back here before me?!"

Laxus swallowed the lump in his throat as he took a step forward, his small body shaking. "Well, there was this lady, who found me, and she helped me get back home. I don't know where she went, but she had to have brought me back here after I fell asleep in her arms."

Ivan turned on his heels so fast, Laxus didn't have time to blink. His father was holding up a large knife to the child's face as he spoke. "There you go, running off with your damned imagination again, boy! There ain't no way in hell some random stranger, let alone a woman, found you in those woods and brought you back home!" The tall man stood and swung his hand across the boys' face, leaving a bright red mark on his cheek. "Quit lying and messing around all the time! This is how you've become useless!" Ivan turned and plunged his knife into the carcass. "You're turning out to be just like your mother! Making up stories… getting into trouble. Those damn centaurs… they'll pay for what they've done… they'll wish they'd worked with me instead of running off into hiding."

Laxus stood in place and lowered his gaze, too afraid to run off to his room. He continued to listen to his father ramble on about the centaurs and that they were hiding something from the humans. He would mumble how selfish they've become and how much he wanted them all dead. "I swear, even til my last dying breath, I will get them all. I will make them all suffer… even if I have to beat down every single one of them myself!"

Gray eyes shot open to see a worn and tattered ceiling above him, a sharp gasp leaving his throat as he breathed in deeply. His memories had taken him back to a time he honestly wish he could forget about.

"You took quite a beating. You're quite lucky to be alive." A familiar voice said beside him.

Laxus snapped his head to the right to see someone he was not expecting to ever meet again. "Y-you?! But it's been… years! How… how do you look… exactly the same as before?!" He asked with wide eyes.

Mira's expression was soft as her lips curled into a slight smile. "You really shouldn't get too excited right now. I just finished changing your bandages. You don't need to get yourself worked up and tear open your wounds."

Laxus attempted to sit upright but was immediately reminded of the pain in his torso, he gasped for air, only to realize how much it pained him to even do that. "What… the hell?!" He said as he lowered himself back down to the bed.

"You suffered a couple of broken ribs as well. The medicine I gave you a while ago must be wearing off by now." Mira said as she stood. "I'll bring you some more."

The large man groaned as the pain throughout his body throbbed hard. "Where… where the hell am I?"

"It's an abandoned house near Oshibana. I've been coming to this house for years while I've been out gathering or trading in nearby towns. My home is a few days walk away, so this has been my safe space should I ever need it." The white-haired woman responded. "You were unconscious when I found you, so I brought you here to tend to your wounds."

Gray eyes shifted over to the woman a few feet away. The room they were in was small, just big enough to hold a bed, a small table and fireplace. 'Who the hell could have lived here before this strange woman?' Laxus thought to himself. Gray eyes widened as the words 'strange woman' rang through his mind. 'Strange… woman… she dodged my question about it before, but… it has to be her! But how?! How is she still alive and so young looking?! Is it magic?'

Mira had turned and started to make her way back over to Laxus, a cup in hand. She extended the cup to him. "Here. This will help with the pain."

"Like hell I'm going to drink that! I don't know you at all! How do I know that's really some kind of poison to inflict more pain upon me?!" The blond-haired man shouted as he refused to take the cup from the pale girl's hand.

Mira just smiled as she sat down in the chair beside the bed. "You do know me, from long ago. Though I didn't give you my name back then… I know you recognize my face. You trusted me long ago, when you were just a frightened little boy, lost in the woods." The white-haired woman gave Laxus a soft smile as she recalled that day. "You were so small, and so scared. You had just fallen and injured your little knees. You were even crying for anyone to come help you. So quick to trust me back then." Her smile faded quickly as her mind remembered what happened next. "Perhaps I shouldn't have taken you back to your home. You had fallen asleep in my arms while I carried you, and shortly after I tended to your knees, I could hear your father calling out your name from the entrance of the woods. For a split second, I thought, this poor child… I should take him with me, back to my home, where he doesn't need to fear anyone anymore. But I was scared too. Scared of what your father might have found when he walked through those doors."

Blue eyes looked up and stared back into cold gray orbs. They were wide as Laxus stared back at Mira. "What… are you saying? Are you some kind… of witch? My father hated many things in life, but he did not mess around with those who could cast curses upon others."

Mira clenched the cup in her hands, shaking her head. "I am no witch, though I know of your fathers preferred hunts. Ever since the war with Hades, centaurs have known to fear and hide from your father. He was the one who made us go into hiding all those years ago."

Laxus could feel his whole body grow hot and shake with building rage. "Us? You mean to tell me…" He brought a hand up to the side of his face and gripped at his head hard. "You… this whole time… you were… one of them?! A centaur?!"

Without leaving his gaze, Mira spoke. "Yes. I am a centaur. My magic abilities allow me to transform my body, and with time, I was able to master making myself into a human without a special enchanted item. When I came across you in those woods, I was hiding from your father. I wasn't sure it was him who had been in the woods until I smelled him on you. I wasn't going to involve myself, but you sounded so sad, and afraid. I couldn't just leave an innocent child by himself."

"Why…" Laxus started to say. "Why… why was it you who had to save me that day?!" His tone grew in anger with each word he spoke. "I WISH YOU HAD JUST LEFT ME THERE!" He shouted as he shot up from the bed, his hands going straight for Mira's neck. He grunted as the pain in his body intensified, but he didn't care. He pulled her up from her seat, causing her to drop the cup in her hands. She gasped for air and a few seconds later, cried out as her body was pushed hard into the stone wall behind her. "Your kind… has always been… a nuisance! You think by saving one child, you monsters can be redeemed?!"

Mira winced slightly as the man's grip around her throat tightened. She didn't fight back, nor did she want to. "You've… got it… all wrong… we aren't… the enemy!" She said slowly in between gasps for air.

"LIAR! YOU'RE ALL LIARS!" Laxus shouted back as he pulled her forward by her neck and slammed her body back into the wall with force. "I NEVER SHOULD HAVE TRUSTED YOU BACK THEN! IT'S BECAUSE OF YOUR KIND, THAT MY MOTHER WAS KILLED! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE THAT! I HAD TO SUFFER IN LIFE THANKS TO YOU CENTAURS! MY FATHER WAS A CRUEL MAN, CRUEL TO HIS OWN FLESH AND BLOOD!"

"La…xus…" Mira said softly.

"SHUT UP! DON'T SAY MY NAME!" Gray eyes shut tight as his hands squeezed harder. He couldn't stop his rage from building inside of him as his mind thought back to his younger days. "He constantly beat me. Blamed me for everything. Threatened to kill me. All because of your kind. You betrayed him in the fight with Hades! He told me everything!"

"He… was lying… Laxus…" The white-haired woman said with a raspy voice, her blue eyes still staying on the man choking her.

"No! He wasn't! My father may have been cruel and unkind, but he never lied to me! He said you centaurs had a secret weapon and refused to use it against Hades! That's how almost all the humans were wiped out! You could have saved them! Yet you refused! You're all so selfish! You've never liked humans! You've destroyed so many lives and towns, it was never good enough for you, was it monster?!" Gray eyes shot open and stared back into blue ones. "But now I have a chance to take revenge. For my father, and for all those humans you left for dead in the hands of Hades!"

"You're wrong!" Mira managed to shout, only angering the large man further. He growled as he pulled her away from the stone wall and forced her down onto the ground. His body towered over her own as he continued to hold her down by her neck. "You have… to think… harder, Laxus!" Mira could tell she had to make him release her soon, though she wouldn't fight back no matter what. "Your father… lied… about everything! We… tried to… help… save all of the… humans! He was… the one who… betrayed… us! He lied… to you… about your… mother! Try… to remember… Laxus… to that… day… I found… you…"

"No… I will not let you try to cloud my mind. You're just trying to save yourself!" The blond-haired man said coldly.

"That day… I found you… your… father… had killed… your… mother. You… couldn't… hear her… screams… over… your own… crying. He… killed her… and brought… her back… to the house… he… butchered her!"

Gray eyes went wide as memories flashed through Laxus's mind. "No… you're… you're lying… always… lying…"

The young boy watched his father in the front doorway, a carcass hung over his shoulder. Blood dripping effortlessly from the wounds his father inflicted upon it.

"It was… a deer… he hunted… a deer…" The large man continued to say.

Laxus watched his father pull the dead body from over his shoulder onto the table. His fathers knife plunging deep into the gut of the… human?

"What…?" Laxus said as he stopped squeezing Mira's neck for a moment, allowing her to take in large gasp of air. "No, it was a deer! It wasn't… human… you're playing a trick on me… father didn't kill mother… he couldn't have."

"She disapproved of him hunting us down. She warned us of his treachery before the battle with Hades. He was the one who killed so many innocent lives that day. He betrayed his own kind, to try to gain more power! When he discovered we knew of his plans, he figured out it was your own mother who had told us of them. But he wanted proof. He wanted to know for sure that she was working with us instead of him! He killed her out of his rage and hatred for us!" Mira prayed that Laxus would see the truth in his memories, seeing her words were only truth.

The blond haired man continued to think back through his memories. He remembered his mother jotting down something on pieces of paper and would sneak out of the house while his father slept. He only saw her a handful of times, but each time she would leave the house, she wouldn't come back until just before dawn when his father would wake. One night, his father had seen his wife leaving late in the evening, so he told Laxus to stay in bed and go back to sleep. He did as he was told, but come the next morning, his mother was acting strange. His father was being hasher to her than usual. Were those warning signs of what was to come? The last thing he can remember of his mother, was that day, when she gave him a tight hug before she left the house to run to the market. Never to be seen again. Laxus can remember his father mentioning before their hunt, that centaurs had captured his mother while she was heading into town, and killed her for whatever she had on her at the time. That is why they needed to go out and find them. To kill them. To get revenge.

They were all lies. He had killed her as soon as she was coming back home, and made everyone think it was the centaurs doing. But… why… why did he bring her body back to the house that night? Why did he have to butcher her like some kind of animal?! Laxus thought to himself as he struggled with the images playing out in his head.

Mira took this chance to continue to try to explain to the large man still on top of her smaller frame. "He knew that if he could make it look like we had committed the murder, he could sway you to his side so that you would start taking us out as well. He was a mastermind at head games, and knew how to get anyone to see only his side of a story. With you being so young and impressionable, he took advantage of that. He made you into the person you are. But I know… deep down, I know that small, scared boy is still in there. You don't have to hunt us any longer. We don't want to hurt you or any other innocent human for that matter."

"Shut up… that boy you speak of… he's been long gone. I am what I am today because I chose to become this soldier, with a lust for battle and a searing hatred for your kind. I chose this. No one made me this way… no one… not even my father." Laxus said coldly in response. "I've commanded armies and even formed my very own legion to command." The large man slowly moved his body off to the side, leaving Mira on the floor where he had pinned her down. His back was facing her as he looked down at his battle worn hands. "I'm not weak. I had to prove myself day in and day out to him. Prove to him I was a strong son, that I could stand on my own two feet. I thrived on what my father told me all those years ago about centaurs. Evil, spiteful, horrid creatures that would kill you without a second thought. He—"

Laxus paused as he felt warm tears rolling down his cheeks. He wasn't even aware that his tears had started to form and now overflow from his gray eyes. The truth was finally sinking in about everything. His mind still didn't want to believe what this woman had to say, but deep in his heart, he had a feeling it was all lies his father had told him. His memories unclouded confirmed what he had feared all those years ago. "He lied." The tall man finally managed to get out from his lips.

Laxus sat there, with his hands coming up to his face as he cried. The sorrow of years past finally had surfaced along with the truth. He continued to ignore the throbbing pain throughout his body. He wanted to suffer for all that he had done in his years. His father had wanted a monster to help carry out his evil deeds, and he had succeeded in that task. The smell of white lilies filled his nose as he felt warmth on his back. The large man continued to cry like a small child as Mira laid her head and hands on his back, comforting him like she did all those years ago.

Angel screamed out in anger as she took hold of the one end of the long table, and flipped it over. She panted as she let the papers fall all around her, her purple eyes darting at the quivering celestial spirit a few feet away from her. "So, what you are telling me… is that Laxus can't be found, Bacchus is dead, and that blasted centaur survived the fall?!" Angel growled as she stomped her heel into the floor, turning her body around as she thought to herself.

Both Gemi and Mini took a step forward, their small frames terrified of the pain their master could inflict upon them at any second. "But Master, we do have other good news to report." Gemi said with a quivering tone.

Mini was next to explain. "Yes! We have very good news! Piri Piri!"

Dark purple eyes shifted over Angel's shoulder. "Oh? And what is it? It better not disappoint."

Both spirits jumped up into the air and started to move their bodies in unison with each other. "All of the armies you had us reach out to have responded and made their way to the castle as we speak!" Mini said with a delighted tone.

Gemi continued. "Eisenwald, Naked Mummy, Dark Unicorn, Harpuia, Ghoul Spirit—"

"Red Hood, Succubus Eye, even Twilight Ogre has shown up! There's no way Fairy Tail can withstand our next attack on them now!" Mini finished off. The two spirits chanted their catchphrase together as they watched a wicked smile start to curve over Angels lips.

The silver haired woman let out a slow, maniacal laugh, eventually throwing her head back as her hand came over her mouth, the evil laughter filling the large room. Purples eyes went wide, as her smile formed from ear to ear. A deranged expression came across her face as she shouted. "SO MANY GUILDS HAVE ANSWERED MY CALL! ALL HAVE COME TO TAKE OUT THOSE FOOLISH CENTAURS ONCE AND FOR ALL! I NO LONGER NEED THAT PATHETIC GENERAL—" Angel lowered her head as she giggled and gasped. Her plan was coming together. "All I need… is for these armies to follow my command and mine alone… then I will have what I want. Everlasting life, and power." The slender woman sauntered over to the open balcony, her dark purple eyes looking over the massive armies that had formed below and around the castle grounds. "So much… power." The woman smirked as she bent forward and leaned on the stone railing with her hands. "I might not even need your help after I get what I want, Gemini. You or any of these other pathetic spirits I have in my collection." Angel reached down to her side and lifted up the two other keys she possessed. One gold and one silver key. She rarely used her gold key for anything other than protection, and her silver key was used to inflict pain on anyone she chose. "Once I get my eternal life and unlimited source of power… I will break all of your keys and you all shall become even more useless to this world." Angel giggled as she peered back out to the forming armies below, a wicked smile formed across her lips.

Gemini looked at each other nervously. "Do you really think she'd do it, Gemi? Would she really break out keys after she gets what she wants?"
Gemi looked to his partner. "I definitely wouldn't put it past her, Mini. She seems to be growing in madness with each passing day."

"Piri piri." The two spirits exclaimed quietly, not wanting to get their crazed master's attention.

"Perhaps it is time to start thinking about our futures and prepare for the worst if Angel really does plan on breaking out keys." Mini said with worry in her voice.

Gemi nodded. "We shall discuss this another time, Mini. For now, we just need to continue pleasing her and do as she says."

Hisui shook as she crouched down behind the brush off in the distance from the castle. She could not believe her eyes and what she was seeing before her. "This… woman… she has not only taken over my castle and soldiers, but she is now building an army from all of the dark guilds from around Fiore! This is madness!"

Makarov groaned as he too couldn't believe what they had stubbled upon. "To think there are this many dark guilds still thriving around Fiore… perhaps we centaurs have been hiding for too long."

Coco quivered as she clung to Hisui's side. "Are they going to attack us?" She asked nervously.

The green haired maiden looked down at the quivering child, and placed a hand on top of her head. "I will make sure that won't happen Coco. But we do need to come up with a plan to take all of these guilds out, along with that imposter."

The old gray centaur brought a finger to his chin, his mind deep in thought. "Yes. It seems to me that we ourselves will need to build an army to match their strengths. I have not been in contact with anyone else outside of Fairy Tail in such a long time… I do not know if anyone would be willing to help us in this fight, I'm afraid."

"Sounds to me like you're in a bit of a bind, Makarov." A low, smooth voice said from off to the side of where the tree beings were. They all snapped their heads in fear, unsure who was approaching them so suddenly and quietly. From the shadows, a large, sandy colored dire wolf approached them. He had a much larger form that that of Bacchus, yet his demeanor seemed less chaotic. "Perhaps I can be of some help to you?"

Hisui moved Coco behind her as she was weary about this newcomer. "Who are you?!"

Makarov couldn't believe his own eyes. "Goldmine?! Is that really you?!"

The dire wolf grinned slightly as he raised a paw. "In the flesh, my old friend."

The green haired woman looked over to the gray centaur. "You know this… wolf?"

Makarov couldn't stop his grin from forming. "I do. Goldmine and I go way back, but I heard rumors that you had gotten into a bit of trouble, friend."

Goldmine set his paw down and nodded. "Yeah. I took a small pack with me up to Gallowstown, got into some trouble over that way. But it sorted itself out. I came back here because I heard word of Bacchus and his… melding of the pack I left behind. I thought he would follow in my footsteps while I was away, and run the pack as I did. Seems I misjudged his character, and he paid the price for it." Dark eyes looked to Hisui for a minute before the large wolf bowed his head. "Please, forgive the wolves for that misguided wolf. He had never shown any signs of evil thoughts while we were together. Perhaps, it was the new status of the pack that caused him to go off the path." Goldmine shifted his gaze back to Makarov. "Allow us, the remaining wolves of the true, Quatro Cerberus, to serve under the centaurs and help you create an army worthy of taking down this new evil. With my help, we can gather more forces with haste."

"I'm afraid, it is not up to me to make that kind of decision. You must ask the true princess of this land. If she trusts you, then we shall gladly accept your help." Makarov said calmly.

As Goldmine shifted his dark eyes back over to the green haired woman, he patiently awaited her answer. Hisui looked into those dark eyes for a long minute, trying to figure out what the best plan of action was, not only for her and her people, but for other beings as well. The tyranny of the imposter must end. And right now, she will take any help she can get, so long as Makarov trusts them. Hisui raised her head as she exhaled slowly. "We will gladly accept your help with this matter, Goldmine. Work towards redemption of your kind, and perhaps we can forgive what Bacchus and the other wolves have done."

Makarov smiled at her words. "It's settled then. Let us all head back to Fairy Tail and regroup with the others. We must talk about the next steps in our plan, and we must be swift. I want to be ready before that evil woman has time to strike."

AN:

Omg so lemme tell you all how much a pain in the ass this chapter was XD I had to go back to previous chapters so many times just to make sure this was all correct info and what I had said before lol

I will be dabbling back into Mira and Laxus in the next chapter!

All of the locations are actually a part of Fiore, I had to look at a map of the whole area so many times lol and as well as the dark guilds Gemini listed in this chapter. And! I brought in Goldmine to help redeem the wolves! Yay haha. I can't wait to get to the next couple of chapters… they will be fun to write and full of emotions once we get to the island! :) thank you all so much for reading and reviewing!