For those of you who wanted to know, the song is called 'Run' and is by Jasmine Thompson. Unfortunately, I changed the words, and it's sung by a girl, so if any of y'all men who are reading this can sing and want to do a cover specific for this story and the new lyrics, I'd FUCKING LOVE THAT.

Also you guys all seem to be forgetting that ELLE NEEDS TO LEAVE IN A FEW DAYS. She can get with Laxus when she gets back...

Chapter Seventy Five - Cubellios

Bickslow's life had changed for the better ever since two kids had waltzed into his life, and he loved them all the more for it. The day they had saved him, he hailed as the best in his life, by far. He had a real family now, and he hadn't really known what that word meant before - with the exception of Papa.

He had cultivated his gift since he joined Fairy Tail, and had learned what it truly meant to read souls.

When he first arrived at Fairy Tail, someone - Levy, maybe - asked if he could see soul mates.

He had never answered the question.

He saw each person connected to a series of strings, and what was amazing about it was that they could form some of the strings on their own. But some strings are always there, even before they meet. Destiny at its finest.

For example, red strings. As far as he could tell, Bickslow had figured that the red string represented love, or soul mates, or significant others. Since the day he'd met her, Juvia always had two red strings trailing off into the distance, spreading who knows where. And when Gray and Lyon walked into the guild, both had brightened, enhancing (especially between her and Gray). Though they've dulled every time one of them strips and she shrieks and hides.

Some people only have one red string - like the one between Jellal and Erza.

Some people are both lucky, and unlucky, though you could say that it depends on what you consider lucky. They have more than one red string; they have options. It's not set in stone - but that also means that it's a harder road. There are many strings coming from Lyon, and even more around Cana. There's even one connecting the two, and right now it's the strongest red for each of them.

But then there are people who are supposed to be red – like Gray and Juvia's were, but over time, it's shifted – it's still red, but it intertwined with a different color – yellow, right now. Saying that it's meant to be red in the end, but they're taking it slow for now, same as for Cana and Lyon's string.

Yellow was the most common color; the color of friendship. Walking into the guild with his Figure Eyes activated was like walking into the sun; blinding. Most people had extra colors - a yellow string entwined with another thing.

Blue tended to mean family, generally biologically, though some were changed. While Laxus and Makarov both have a deep blue string connecting to one another, they both have another one leading off somewhere, that's the same dark, grotesque blue, like festering oil. And then there's a lighter, sky blue color that some people have; which as far as Bickslow knows means that they don't know they're related.

And if the members of the guilds who were connected still didn't know by the end of the year, he'd tell Elle, but that's something for another time.

Purple tended to be best friends, though unless it wasn't entirely platonic it tended to be wound with another sort of color, like how Gray, Lyon and Ultear have the familial blue mixed in - though it's not solid because they aren't genetically related.

Pink tended to be a type of appreciation mixed with respect and love. Prime examples being Juvia, Lucy, Yukino, Jet, Jellal and Freed when it comes to Elle, though most of them all seemed to be mixed with blue; except Freed. Freed's is just pure pink.

What worried him was when some were missing their red string. It doesn't mean that their soul mate is dead - because one of Gildarts's two strings is clipped, and trails behind him as he walks.

But Lucy and Levy don't have red strings, and neither does Yukino... But, as before, that's a problem for a different time.

Because as Bickslow watched on Elle's twelfth birthday, things seemed to slide into place, and he felt like he was watching Fate at work.

Fuck.

The whole world seemed to slow down, and time seemed to freeze.

It was my thirteenth birthday party, my best friend was singing for me and I was in love with Laxus Dreyar.

Fuck.

I think I'm in love with Laxus Dreyar, and I don't know what to do.

I'm not sure if I actually am in love with him. God knows if I've ever even felt love…and it might be sad, but it's still true. At least I'm learning.

But I look at this idiot, at the stage he's on, smiling and breathless after singing a song for me, and the world is incredibly beautiful.

Laxus was a close friend, that's for sure. All the times we've simply camped together, or been together had something a little extra to them, and I don't think I noticed until now because I'd never had them before.

Maybe it's the extra sense of danger in our lives. Maybe it's me finally meeting someone who really, completely and utterly, cares for me. Maybe it's the magic causing this.

Maybe it's Maybelline.

And maybe I'm going slightly crazy because I'm overthinking this.

I've always overthought relationships, because I never had one, but what I have with Laxus now…now that I really do stop think about it, it actually seems kind of simple once I slow down and breathe.

He makes me feel safe, and happy, and that's all that matters.

In that moment, Bickslow watched as things changed. Elle's line with Laxus, which was often entwined between red and purple, shimmered and solidified into a solid, pure red, and he smiled.

The world sped up again, and I was fine with that.

Later, he could only sigh as everyone reinforced what he already knew.

Bickslow was surrounded by idiots.

And really, all of them should leave the guild and go to sleep by now.

"You guys are stupid," Gray commented.

"Are you saying you don't think they'd be a good couple, Gray-san?" Freed asked dangerously, eyes narrowing.

"No!" Gray replied. "I just think you're pushing them too fast! They're only a few years older than us."

"I'm older than they are and I don't have a problem with it," Erigor commented.

"That's because you're having fun trying to get them together!"

"I don't really think we have to do anything," Nab muttered. "They'll just get together on their own, soon enough..."

"You're probably right," Jet muttered.

They were ignored.

"I agree with Gray," Lyon stated. "Drugging Laxus on her birthday was too far."

"Wait, you did what?" Jellal asked, looking up, suddenly more alert.

"We didn't drug him," Erigor said. "Jeez, we just helped with his nerves. He was a bit scared to sing the song."

"Of course he was! It's basically a declaration of love!" Gray yelled.

"While I wouldn't go that far," Simon added. "They'll probably get together on their own."

"I thought they were already together," Sho piped in.

Wally hummed in agreement.

"I'm sorry, can we go back to the drugging thing?" Jellal repeated, trying to be calm.

"It's not anything bad, we just spiked his drink a bit," Erigor said, waving it off. "Plus, it's not like he wouldn't have drank it if he didn't want to. He's a dragon slayer, he can smell the alcohol. I could smell the alcohol."

"I still don't feel okay with that," Jellal muttered.

"Cana is a lot worse," Lyon pointed out. "She keeps drinking like crazy."

"Wait, are you telling me Cana is the one that's been stealing liquor from the basement?" Sho asked.

"Yes," several people deadpanned.

"Does Elle know?" Jellal asked.

Erigor snorted. "No, but I'm sure that she'd be able to figure it out. Cana really likes drinking. Like...a lot. So I wouldn't be surprised if she drank a lot in the other timeline, too. If Elle knew that someone was stealing from the basement, she'd probably be able to pin it on Cana."

"But-" Freed started.

"I still think we should tell Elle," Nab said.

Jet shook his head. "But it's like it doesn't even affect Cana. Well, I know it does by the end of the day, but she has more tolerance than Macao and Wakaba, it's crazy!"

Bickslow sighed again. His friends were such gossips.

"BACK TO THE ELLAXUS!" Freed shouted. "We must commence our plans!"

"You're forgetting that they spent a good few months with us," Gray pointed out. "During which, they spent most of their nights together, cuddled up in a tent."

"From what I saw, I'm sure that they'll get together on their own, soon enough," Lyon added.

"Besides, it's not like their relationship has changed at all," Gray commented.

"That's not true," Bickslow said.

They all turned to look at him. "What do you mean?" Gray asked.

Bickslow was quiet, before taking a deep breath. "My Figure Eyes allows me to see a lot about people's relationships. On her birthday, it changed. I think, at the very least, they realize they have feelings for each other."

"Why haven't they done anything, yet?" Freed asked.

"Maybe because their relationship isn't like that," Bickslow said, shrugging. "At the time, they don't need to do anything else, because I think they're both fine with where they are."

I'm not quite sure how I'm supposed to react around Laxus now that I know I'm in love with him.

Luckily, though, I spent most of the time with Juvia and Millianna, giving them special days.

I felt bad for not helping the Oracion Seis, but I couldn't neglect these kids; they were my family, and so I spent time with them.

Though I spent most of my time with Millianna planting catnip in my backyard for her…which I was a little wary about, because I'm pretty sure that catnip is like weed for cats.

But Hiro Fucking Mashima can barely get anything straight, so even if it is in my old world, that doesn't mean it is in this world.

She promised to take care of them while I was gone, and then it was time to leave.

Yukino, though she did still look up to Kagura as an older sister, didn't want me to leave, and was a bit upset she wouldn't be staying with me. Wally pointed out that if she wanted Sorano in addition to me, that she'd have to let me leave, and that finally let her let me go.

Before I left, I met up with Cana, and we made a different type of tracking based off of the scales I had found.

The regular magic for it wasn't working, so instead, this would allow me to go into a trance and experience the world through Cubellios's eyes.

It would be a lot harder to find them that way, but it was the only thing I could think of.

After creating the cards, Cana hugged me and wished me luck, and it was time for me to go on my way.

Except Laxus stopped me.

"You remember what I told you, right?" he asked.

I smiled at him softly. "Yeah, I remember."

He looked me in the eyes and nodded slowly. "Side by side, Elle. If you need help with anything, you can always count on me."

"Side by side," I repeated, and he pulled me into a hug.

I took a moment to just enjoy the feeling.

"Thanks, Laxus," I said finally, stepping back. "Goodbye."

"Bye, Elle," he said softly. "Good luck."

I smiled and teleported away.

From what I could tell through Cubellios's senses, they were in a mountain range not too far from Magnolia.

Not that it made them any easier to find them.

But Cubellios had overheard Brain telling a member to go shopping for something in Onibas, and the member had pointed out that Magnolia was closer; and then Brain mentioned that Fairy Tail was in Magnolia, and the guy shut up almost immediately.

And so, I made my way to the mountains.

Just so it's been said; the mountains SUCK.

Okay, so it's not the mountains' fault that I ended up wet and cold and covered in mud, but I still hate the place.

You see, teleportation comes in handy, but not if you don't know where you're going. So I had to wander around in the forest on the mountains for hours, and eventually I slipped and rolled down a giant slope.

On the one hand, it fucking sucks.

And on the other, I actually found the base.

Accidentally.

Fuck Mashima.

And then I saw it.

Oh, shit.

I froze, looking directly at Cubellios, who stared back, hearing my heart beat rapidly in the silence.

"Cubellios," I said quietly. "Can you understand me? If you can, I think I can help get Erik out of here. I'd take him and the other kids back home, to my guild, and we would be a family."

The silence after that seemed to echo, until slowly, slowly, Cubellios nodded.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Upon rolling down the mountain, I had found Brain's base, though most of it was obviously underground.

I turned to Cubellios. "I don't know how much you can understand, so for now, we'll stick to yes and no questions, alright?"

She nodded.

"Do you know how many kids are in the base?"

She nodded. YES.

"Is it just the five of them?" I asked. "Erik, Sorano, Macbeth, Sawyer and Richard?"

She shook her head. NO.

I blinked. "Are there more than five other kids?"

NO.

"So there's less than ten?"

YES.

"Are there more than eight?"

NO.

"Are there more than seven?"

NO.

"Are there six kids?"

She nodded again, all while giving me an expression that seemed to be making fun of my intelligence.

"Nod if it's a boy, shake your head if it's a girl."

She nodded. BOY.

I paused, thinking. "Do you know about magic types?"

Nothing. So...she didn't know the answer?

"Have you heard the phrase 'Lost Magic'?" I asked.

She nodded.

"Do you know if any of the kids have Lost Magic?" I asked.

She nodded again.

"Does Erik?"

YES.

Then he's already had the lacrima implanted.

"Does anyone else?"

She nodded again.

Then it has to be the boy. "Is the other one the boy who's name I don't know?"

She nodded.

I bit my lip. If he knew Lost Magic… "Is his hair white, black or brown?"

She shook her head.

"Red, orange, or yellow?"

NO.

"So, it's either green, blue or purple. Is it green?"

YES.

Green. A green-haired boy with Lost…Magic…

I looked back down at Cubellios. "Is his name Orga Nanagear?"

She nodded.

I frowned to myself. I didn't know anything about Orga's past. Was-

I stopped as I heard the noise, and saw as a man appeared. A man I recognized, and was not expecting.

And I really hoped I didn't have to fight him, because I knew for a fact that he was stronger than Brain, who I don't think I could handle on my own.

I stayed where I was, already well hidden, and watched as a trapdoor slid open and Brain walked up a flight of steps to meet the man, dragging a small, green-haired boy with him.

Orga.

Who was actually decidedly adorable at the present time.

Brain threw him forward onto the ground, and I curled my hands into fist, trying my hardest not to make a sound.

"He's not the right fit," Brain said flatly. "He's all yours."

"Why should I take him?" Hades asked back.

"He has Lost Magic," Brain stated. "You wanted that, right?"

"How?"

"He was inserted with a God Slayer Lacrima a few months ago."

Hades nodded. "That is acceptable. Come, boy. Oh…Brain."

Brain looked back at Hades. "What is it?"

"That girl, you warned me about…she took out one of my men."

"I warned you," Brain said.

"For whichever one of us sees her next…" Hades said quietly. "Make sure she gets hit with a few good kicks, from whichever one of us can't be there."

Brain smirked. "I couldn't agree more."

Hades looked back down at Orga. "Come, boy."

Orga stood up, off the ground, and slowly started trailing behind after Hades.

Brain turned around, entering the underground base again, and the second the door shut after him, Orga raised his hands, shouting, "Lightning God's Charged Particle Cannon!"

It struck Hades, and gave Orga enough time to run (though it was nowhere near as strong as it was in the future).

As he passed me, I grabbed Orga and dragged him into the bush, whispering, "Pluto's Cover." He continued to struggle as shadows coated us, and I hissed in his ear. "Quiet, or he'll find us!"

Hades roared in anger, yelling and searching through the forest, and Brain came out to see what was wrong.

"That damned brat escaped!" Hades yelled.

"It was probably that Fairy Tail-" Brain started.

"Oh, enough with the Fairy Tail!" Hades yelled. "You're starting to get paranoid! I hardly doubt that girl was the one who caused this."

Orga turned to look at me from where I held him in my arms, and he pointed at me and then the two men talking.

Smiling, I nodded, and shifted a bit so he could see the guildmark on my back.

He smiled, and bit his lip to stop from giggling.

Eventually, Brain went back inside, and Hades returned to his airship, which was flying overhead.

I relaxed.

"Why does he hate you?" the kid's tiny voice came out. It was so hard to believe that this was Orga; he was just so adorable, especially compared to the hulking guy he'd been in the future.

"I've caused a lot of trouble for him…" I muttered. "Paranoid fucker."

Orga giggled at the words, and I remembered that God Slayers were a lot like Dragon Slayers, so he'd definitely be able to hear me.

As he looked back at the facility, though, his face darkened, and he grew sad.

"Hey, don't worry," I told him. "I'm gonna rescue the rest of the kids in there."

His eyes widened. "You are?"

I nodded. "Yep. And I've got someone on the inside."

"Who?"

I jerked my head to the snake next to us, and Orga gasped as he realized who it was, having not even noticed her due to her small size. "Cubellios?"

Cubellios nodded at him.

"Can I come?" he asked.

I sighed and nodded. "Fine."

He smiled.

"Alright, you guys ready?" I said to them. "Orga, we've still got my spell covering us, and it should make it hard for them to hear or sense us. Just in case, though, I'd rather sneak everyone out...just in case. Less chance of them coming after us."

He nodded, and Cubellios nodded eagerly, too.

"Then let's save some kids."

I don't know if Cana x Lyon will be a thing, but there's an option for it, anyway. That's why they have multiple strings.

Next stop: Chapter Seventy Six - Oracion Seis, Part One