ix

Ultear found herself in a curious place.

Everywhere around her were crystals, shimmering in a teal-ish, purple light. They were reflective and surrounded her, even the floor she stood on was crystal. She wore what she was wearing moments before, and even though her feet were bare, she felt no cold on the smooth, glassy surface. In fact, she felt no heat either. It was like she was dreaming, her body only there to place herself within the dream. Ultear was all alone in this strange world, with only her own reflection to stare back at her. A smallness unlike ever before weighed over her, and she looked around, desperate for a distraction in the foreign place.

So she stared into the crystals, taking a step forward. To her surprise, as she moved closer, some of the crystals began to shimmer, and the image they reflected was not one of Ultear, but of someone else entirely. She felt drawn into the scene, as it began to play out before her.

Upon gazing more closely, her head felt like it was splitting in two.

Mom. Meredy. Ur.

Dad. Macbeth. Hades

Camping out in the woods. The Bureau of Magical Development.

Camping. Research.

Magic. Ice. Time.

Crime Sorciere. Grimoire Heart.

Tenrou Island. Zeref. Second Origin.

Jellal. Jellal.

Deer. Men.

The Grand Magic Games.

Eclipse Gate.

Arc of Time.

She screamed in pain as conflicting memories flowed in and out like water from two separate pitchers. If one was hot, the other was cold, and vice versa. She was floating in that sea of events she barely knew anything about, any connection being made slipping from her mind as quickly as it was experienced. So much pain, so much misunderstanding, so much hate. Her tiny body was wracked by such emotions to the point of her curling up in a ball, hands over her ears in a pitiful form of surrender. Maybe she was crying, she couldn't feel anything but whatever memories flowed into her head. If she was dead, maybe this explained everything. She could no longer do anything but have everything played back to her.

"We've led a very painful life, haven't we?"

Ultear struggled to look up. A woman appeared before her, although she wasn't sure where she had come from. The woman's body was that of a mature adult, with long black hair in a white ribbon and red eyes. She wore a familiar-looking cloak, and tucked under her arms was a crystal ball. She smiled sadly at Ultear. Ultear didn't ask her name, that answer had already flowed into and out of her mind several times before.

"I'm sorry to have all of this forced on you at once. Before, it was slow, but we no longer have time to be slow." She crouched down, looking Ultear straight in the eyes. "Ultear, you need to accept what is happening."

"N-No. Mom's coming back," she sniffled.

The older woman frowned. "That's not what I mean by what you need to accept. There are people, many people, who are very important to us. They're in danger right now, and even though we have the means to save them, we remain shackled by our lack of knowledge. This is why you're remembering everything you can right now."

It was those other people's fault she felt like this? Ultear resolved to hate them, whoever they were. If she was really close to them, they wouldn't make her feel this way, right?

"It is not pleasant, and I'm sure you will not want to, but it's what must be done. Please try to understand..." The woman paused, looking once again at the crying Ultear. "No, maybe I am being too harsh. I would not wish this upon anyone. Even though this is my own self...are we even the same person anymore?"

Ultear couldn't understand, she didn't want to understand. Everything was too big, too vast for her to even begin to comprehend. She could hardly stand to look at the woman anymore, the melting pain in her skull overwhelming.

Suddenly, she felt herself being pulled up and embraced. The older woman held her tight, her hands stroking her hair. Somehow, a peace settled in Ultear's heart, even though she could clearly remember despising the woman not moments before.

"Meredy always said I was too hard on myself...let's go a bit slower this time." The memories that threatened to crush Ultear slowly subsided. They were replaced by tiny bits of knowledge, fragments of memory slowly taking shape. If the previous time was that of waves during a storm this was the same waves on a calm day, slowly lapping into her mind until she fully absorbed them, then moving onto the next. A fierce headache still raged in her skull, but she no longer felt entirely overwhelmed. With that relief came even more crying.

"It was nice, seeing Meredy as a mother. Even though I'm sure we burdened her quite a bit, she never complained about it. Make sure you apologize a whole lot for me if you see her again."

"...She's still Mom you know."

"...Well, if you still think that way, who am I to argue?" Ultear thought she could hear the smirk in her voice. "Whatever you decide is what's true. I'm no longer in a position to make judgments."

"But...you're me, aren't you?" With the memories finally sticking, Ultear was able to acknowledge who the woman was. Herself. In a way.

"Yes, but in a way, I am also no more than old memories by now. I can only appear in spaces such as these at this point. You are the one living now, the one able to make decisions, to accept or reject things. I can guide you, but no longer affect anything in the real world."

"That's so sad, I'm sorry." It was bizarre, having to apologize to herself. Ultear pulled out of the older woman's embrace to look her in the eyes. She didn't appear to dislike Ultear for this fact, although her face did betray some sadness. She playfully ruffled Ultear's hair, who swatted her away. With the new knowledge inside her, she suddenly felt that very...demeaning. Even if it was herself who did it.

"Have you accepted everything now?"

"...We really did have a lot of hardships. I don't think it'll be as easy as accepting or not accepting it. I've still got a lot of time to think it all out though."

Her older self frowned. "You might have to do all that thinking later. Like I said before, there's danger nearby, one that you need to help with if the people involved are going to survive. Do you feel up to it now?"

Her tiny self looked down, then up again at her, eyes determined. "I'll do my best!"

"That's the me I know." Her bigger self grinned before fading, as Ultear felt consciousness return to her.

"How's her fever?" Rosie shook her head at Mikan's question.

"Not much has changed since the last time you asked ten minutes ago, dear." Mikan had been shocked when he found Ultear on the ground, unconscious and burning up. That was two hours ago, and she was still sweating from the fever. Amidst all the other problems of the day, he found this one the most distressing. Ultear having a cold, the foreign empire practically knocking on their doors...he prayed it was only a mere coincidence.

"We have enough medicine, yes?"

"Yes, thankfully I think what we have will do for now. I do wish we could go to a hospital but…" Rosie clenched her teeth. Hospitals would be getting full right now from the war going on outside. And even beyond that, merely venturing outdoors could prove dangerous enough to deter them from bringing a child with them. If she got much worse, perhaps, but that was a risk she tried not to think about.

"We should probably move her to the basement, we'll bring some blankets, get some cool rags, and...what?" Mikan's face had gone wide in shock. Rosie turned around, her back to Ultear when talking to him, and she too gasped. Ultear sat up, eyes open, looking perfectly healthy, with no glaze of fever or reddened cheeks. The child turned to look at them, and Rosie felt a shudder run through her. Ultear didn't appear sick, but there was something unnerving about the way she looked at her just now.

"Ultear…?"

"I'm already now." The voice that responded was the same, but the pitch was different. More confident in its pronunciation, crisper in its accent. Like an adult with a child's voice. Yes, exactly like that. "You don't have to worry about me anymore. I'm sorry Meredy put you to all this trouble just for me...I do appreciate it though. If things go well, I'll have to do something for you two in the future."

"What are you talking about Ultear? Are you really alright? That's not just the fever talking, is it?" Mikan pulled closer to her, trying to see if she really was alright. Ultear threw off the covers and stood on the couch. She smiled. Rosie thought it looked rather regretful.

"I really am alright now, better than I have been in a long time. I'm also sorry because I have to leave now."

"Leave? What are you talking about–"

"I'm sorry, once again. You two are lovely parents, I wish I could have stayed longer. Goodbye." With that, there was a rippling in the air as intense magical power suddenly poured from the child's body. Rosie shielded her eyes while Mikan took a leap, trying to catch Ultear before she could do anything.

Alas, it was too late. Mikan landed on the couch in a yelp, hands holding nothing. Ultear had disappeared without a trace.

From the battlefield in Hargon, two teens sat frozen in time. The Shield of the Spriggan–Dimaria–licked her lips in pleasure. The two had gotten the jump on her, true, but now she was in her element. Trapped within Age Seal, the three girls were now at her mercy. She could do whatever she wanted and watch as she unsealed time and looked upon their pretty faces twisting in despair. Which one would be the first to die?

Her. It would have to be her. The brat who'd kicked her in the face.

Raising her sword, Dimaria was inches away from taking the blue-haired girl's life when suddenly, even though it should have been impossible, she leaped backward from the blade. Dimaria's eyes widened. How–

The girl called out to her friend, "Cheria!"

"Wendy!" she called back. Both of them could move?!

With that, the two lept backward just to launch themselves forward in a coordinated attack. Dimaria blocked them in surprise, still stunned that they could move.

"Did you hear that voice?" Wendy asked.

"Yes, it sounded strange though, just like a child's..."

"That's because I am a child, well, I look like one at least."

All three women turned their heads in the direction of the voice. There, in the dust of the battle, a small child grinned at them. She wore a simple teal dress, with narrow red eyes and long black hair. In her arms, she held a similarly teal-colored crystal ball. The expression on her face seemed too sophisticated for a child to pull off, she couldn't have been more than a toddler by anyone's guess. Still, her posture and attitude carried with it the weight of someone far older. It was enough to make anyone do a double-take in surprise.

"Who dares enter my barrier?"

"Quite presumptuous to think you were alone here, wasn't it? As a fellow time user, I must make sure people such as yourself don't abuse your power."

Carla gasped. "Wait, it couldn't be. You haven't been seen since the Grand Magic Games..."

The girl smirked. Truly, an unsettling expression coupled with her current body. "You are right Carla. Please forgive me, I would have been here sooner, but I needed to sort through a few things first. Now then," she turned to stare down–in her case up–at Dimaria, who stiffened at the intense gaze. "In the name of Crime Sorciere, even though I'm no longer a member, Ultear Milkovich will put you down for your crimes. Prepare yourself."