Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.

Toying with Natsu really let off some stress I had about this whole plan, I should keep someone like that around me as a stress ball, only much livelier with way better reactions. Sadly, those times are over, joy gone, only my ongoing trip remained in my head. My research on Arbor Mountain finished, I was back in my room, packing all supplies I will need, sleeping bag, food, medicine, changes of clothes…all that was stuffed into my backpack, now rounded-off and looking like it would burst. Meredy was also beside me. Since she was going to a town, her bag was empty compared to mine. At that time, we heard our front door open and close, a short moment later, Jellal walked in the room his bangs covered his eyes again, back slouched with his hands hanging limply, swinging with each step he took.

"Did you try to persuade Erza not to help us or something?" I asked. "You look terrible."

"No…we just had an argument." Jellal laid on the floor with his limbs spread out.

"What about?"

"She wanted to trade places with me."

"She wants to go to Poppy Mines?"

"That's it." Jellal groaned. "She wanted to go there because it might the most dangerous of the five. Even the surroundings are filled with natural hazards. The occasional monster attacks make the mines only operational during certain times of the year."

"And you took a place like that? What are you, crazy? That's too reckless."

"She said the same thing." He smiled wryly, "And then she suddenly told me she's going there in my place."

"Why not let her do then?" It's not like Erza can't defend herself, I can't really imagine many people being able to fight her if the situation arises.

"Because I spent a lot of time researching the mines, won't that just make my efforts meaningless?"

"You can just tell her what you've found. Why did you even argue in the first place? Does it really matter who is going where? We don't need to have someone go twice, meaning we don't have to wait as long."

"Why do you think I let her go?"

Meredy spoke up, "Jellal, you should just have said you were worried for her."

"How will that help? She's really stubborn, annoyingly stubborn, why can't she understand this?"

"If boys and girls could understand each other that easily, the world's problems will at least cut in half."

I got up and grabbed my bag, "Whatever the case, once you're done mulling over your spat, you better start leaving okay? I'm leaving ahead of you two, I'm the furthest of the three after all." Talking sense into that man won't help. If he couldn't understand Erza's actions, there's no point. I gave Meredy an eye to not help Jellal and left.

I managed to catch a train going to a town that's closest to the mountain. Since it was far away and not a very popular spot, there were only a few trains every day. It was roughly three in afternoon, by the time I'll arrive, it'll be night, which is perfect for sneaking around. That means, it's no time to admire the scenery or the ever-shrinking Magnolia, I need to sleep.

"Come on!" I shouted at a beaten Meredy, scratches were all over her body, a blood trail was tracing her jawline as she laid limply on the ground. It was three months after I took her in, being too harsh to her as always. Dipping up and down above my palm, was my orb, partly spattered with her blood. "If you can't dodge something like that, what will you do if something is actually trying to kill you? You'll have your first test soon you know!?"

"I'm sorry…" Meredy tried to pick herself back, first with her tiny arms that were shaking. Strength left her and she hit the dirt again.

"If you don't get up, I'm leaving you." Those words would make her squeeze, and force, and milk every last bit of power she had left. It was those words that I used like a tool to drive her further, making her surpass all my previous expectations.

"Please don't!" The child shrieked, that most likely used up all her remaining energy, her eyes says otherwise. "Ur is all I have left," tears mixed in with her blood, and snot stuck to rotting leaves, "don't leave me alone."

"Don't call me by that name!" I send my orb forward, even going as far to accelerate it—which I haven't done once during the entire training session. Just as the orb was about to smash against Meredy's head, her tiny hands caught it. A horrible scream masked cracking bone that I barely picked up; a cry I didn't want to hear again. It felt like a bird crying out to their parents as they leave the nest, she didn't mind the physical pain at all, she just wants someone to be by her side. And it was that sound that snapped me out of my rage. "Meredy!" I rushed to the fallen child.

"If I…" she was unconscious, her eyes were open but, nothing that those green eyes scanned was being processed, just a dull emerald, "can't dodge it…I'll block it. Sorry I couldn't…do as told. Don't…abandon me."

"I'm sorry!" I picked up her broken frame, holding her close, but gentle enough to not harm her any further. Though she couldn't listen, guilt drove me to explain, "if you don't pass the test, I'll have no choice but to throw you away. You've done well you know? Your resolve is more than enough." That was the day I vowed to never push her that hard again, her need for company was abused by me. Yet, it was that same thing that kept her alive that day. My prayers were answered; before I have to see those wounds again, I was woken by a train shaking as it ran across uneven tracks. "That was worse than any nightmare," with the help of a dying sun, I saw my shaking fingers, "they're fiction," a chill ran down my spine, "that wasn't." I want Meredy to be with me; brushing her healthy fingers; washing her scar-less body in the bath; get lost in her vibrant emeralds brimming with life.

My predictions were correct, when I disembarked my train, it was the perfect time to go investigating. Arbor Mountains is an interesting place, if it wasn't for the magic-wielding monsters, tourist will come flocking in. Even from a distance, I could see the mountain, a singular massive piece of terrain green from the tree growing with its signature sky-blue hat. The peak may seem like snow, however, that culmination of light blue wasn't snow and ice, but Lacrima, though I have heard it gets cold enough for that. A place that is deemed a natural wonder by the kingdom, also called Lighthouse by locals, the only Lacrima sourced around here is the crystals sprouting from the ground, even those are strictly monitored, for they are crucial to the ecosystem here. Seeing that the people I'm dealing with isn't exactly the most law-abiding people, I'm heading straight to the peak.

I quickly left the station, fully prepared to use a good deal of the night walking there, I found magical vehicles for rental set up next to a ticket machine that records which ones were being rented, I believe I have the Princess to thank for these additions to the kingdom. Though the King—or rather the Treasurer—must have fought a good deal before committing this much resources to mages that aren't the major populace. Regardless, I picked a vehicle modelled after a bike and drove in the mountain's direction.

Driving in the night was soothing somehow. Danger was ahead of me, closing in the further I head towards it. Yet, there was something about the smooth winds and the temperature of a rural area like this that seems to make me feel more at ease. The air was clean, and the only sounds were from bugs and birds. Of course, I had to keep my guard up in-case anything jumps at me be it animals or people.

Soon, I came across a rental station. It was just a small garage enough to fit four larger vehicles and three spots for bikes like mine. The station was completely empty, no one in their right mind would come here for no reason after all. From what I've read before, it should be mating season for some animals here, therefore, even employees supposed to work here are taking a break until things get a lot less territorial.

After parking the bike, I paid the amount according to the time I was using the bike, which was around half an hour. Though I was at the foot of the mountain, it's influences already started. All around me, large Lacrima crystals grew out the ground, glowing a mysterious soft blue. They varied a lot in size, from small saplings to ones the size of a house. What's insane is the amount of magic flowing through here. It was heavy, but not in the unpleasant way, it had the comfort of a weighted blanket.

Walking around for a bit, I found a path that presumably the workers used to climb the mountain. It was a narrow path, only fitting two, maybe three people at once. Tree flanked every side, blocking off most of the light the Lacrimas would give off, casting long shadows that made it hard to discern projections from real objects. A few more minutes later, I found a sign pinned to a tree. 'Beware of Hornet Nest. Do Not Disturb.'. A bad feeling surfaced as I looked up. The nest was huge, about twice the size of my head. While I'm not an expert on bugs, to live in these mountains, must require a certain amount of strength. I quietly—even avoiding fallen leaves—walked past the mine above me.

Ever since I started my adventure in this mountain, the ambient sounds had such a huge contrast to when I was just started, I entered a dog-eat-dog world. In one second, I would hear a sharp battle cry followed by a flash of magic, the other second, screams reverberated the mountains, the kind you would only hear from taking lives. That was just the beginning, small footsteps were running towards me. I prepared my orb. Jumping from the dark, was a hunter with sharp claws, glinting with a layer of magic, it's yellow, feline eyes regarded me curiously. A sleek body honed from the hours of chasing and slaughter. It bared its fangs at me.

One thing told me it most likely wouldn't be a threat, "a cat?" It was simply too small. And that's not me letting my guard down, knowing it can channel magic to its claws shows it can kill me if I do. However, in the natural world, animals tend to hunt things that they deem as easy prey. Taking down something large is not only risky, but can be less energy efficient compared to going for small game, this is only amplified if they are hunting solo. If the cat was planning to eat me, it wouldn't show off those flashy claws until the last moment anyway.

We stared at each other for a good minute, I was watching for the slightest movement in muscle, the cat, seemed to be focused on my backpack.

"Are you…hungry?" I took a step forward; it jumped back. Seeing that I wasn't doing anything, it walked back to its original spot. "You're starving," I muttered, perhaps the sleekness came from the lack of food, not copious amounts of pursuing, however, the darkness didn't let me confirm my hunch.

Without taking my eyes off the cat, I reached into my bag, and pulled out some dried meat. "You want this?" I tossed them to the cat. Before they touched ground, a grey blur snatched it. "Aren't you the quick one?" It ate desperately, I was honestly worried it would choke on the food. "You really shouldn't be walking around with those claws like that, they're a big giveaway. No wonder you can't catch any—" what if it was forced away from its home?

I wasn't familiar with this species so I couldn't tell if it was young or not, but assuming it is, its still being taught how to hunt, but something forced them be separated. This trip might bring me more information that I originally hoped.

"If you don't get a hang of hunting soon, you'll die here," I started to walk away, "that's all the help you're getting from me." I was distracted by a cat, how much time did I lose? I really have grown soft…in the past, I would have killed it and moved on. But…this isn't so bad.

I might have been half way up the mountain before the landscape had noteworthy changes. Trees lost dominance and gave ground to Lacrimas, the trees that did remain were adapted to cooler climates. Strangely enough, I felt at ease in the stronger winds and chilly climate. I personally can't wait until snow adds to this beautiful place. The Lacrimas shooting out were much bigger than before, now all of them were taller than I am. Here, is where most of the mining is taking place. Scaffolding could be found on the bigger Lacrimas. The smaller ones, had chunks taken out of them. If you were lucky, you can grab yourself a pickaxe lying next to Lacrimas left behind by lazy miners. In the hints of civilization, I finally saw shadows of a human, two of them in fact, walking side-by-side up the mountain.

Being extra careful, I used the crystals for cover, following the two people up. They were wearing winter coats, a pickaxe in hand. And from their stature—tall, muscular—they were men. I dipped closer to them between more crystals.

"Damn it's cold here." One complained.

"Strap yourself in, it's going to get worse." The other replied.

"Did we really have to harvest all this shit?"

"Quit complaining, the pay is good." that was troubling, they were only hired, meaning they don't have much information on them.

"Who need this much Lacrima anyway? How long will it get to charge all this?"

"I can't believe we were sitting on this gold mine, what is the kingdom doing?"

"Pussy-footing around as usual, what else? If I was king, the people would sing of the shit I'll do." I listened to their useless banter hoping for everything interesting; keeping my expectations low since they are just hired helpers.

I learned nothing but their fetishes, sexual history—or conquests as they referred it to—and gripes about modern society. Though I expected as much, I couldn't help but have an urge to knock them unconscious, saves me a lot of time, I don't have to slug behind them. However, doing so might kill them from the cold, the last thing I want is have the dark guild be on guard. Not even their preferences proved to be useful as I can't take advantage of them—I'm neither wearing tights or have glasses on me. Therefore, I endured.

From the alpines, to snow, I felt slightly at home. Rocks have almost completing disappeared while trees lost completely. Lacrimas now reign supreme. Their glow turned subtle from the layer of snow built over them. I climbed over a small lip blocking the bases of the crystals. I've been impressed by this place so far, but nothing struck me as wonder worthy. This however, at the peak, absolutely was. Imagine countless crystals—each one as tall as a building—pointing to the sky in unison at different angles, now add a soft, gentle blue light coming off from them. The light would bounce off snow, giving them a blue pigment. If moonlight hits the crystals at the perfect angle, rainbows would shoot out like a mirrored ball under lights. As snow danced, the lights would as well.

What destroyed this image was, scaffolding. Steel beams used as support polluted this wonderful view. Using them, were workers, chipping at the Lacrimas and dumping them in buckets. I wanted to make the beams to dust to nothing, render the picks unholdable and drag every person here behind bars. But I held it in. The patient will be rewarded. That being said, the amount of people here made hiding much harder. Just then, I felt something brush my leg. I turned and made a blade of ice, prepared to end whatever discovered me. To my surprise, it was the cat from earlier. I took it and hopped back over the lip I made over.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered. "I'm not giving you anymore food." It simply looked at me with hope, it pointed to the right and walked in that direction. To my foolishness, I decided to follow it. If I ever end up dying, I only have myself to blame. The cat led me through a maze of crystals, to the point where I was certain it was messing with me. At the end of our journey, was a cave entrance.

It wasn't a normal cave, from what I could tell, the cave was simply just Lacrimas growing against each other, forming a tent shape.

"Is this your home?" The only response was an impatient mew. Why am I following a cat anyway? This might be a trap. Again, I ignored the warnings and forged on.

Thankfully, the cave wasn't very deep. What I can't thank, is that the cat led me to what I presume to be the mother. From the moment I saw it, I knew this thing stood at the top of the food chain here. The throne it was sitting on were Lacrimas levelled perfectly with one clean swipe, it was massive, just from the size of the mouth alone, it could swallow me whole. Paired with the size of a ruler, it possessed the nobility and grace of a Queen. A pure white coat of fur with a mane that acted like a high-quality scarf; dazzling blue eyes pinned me down. The light Lacrimas gave off further added to the presence. Unlike her child, her claws were retracted. Somehow, that was scarier.

For now, she was just observing me, lying down using her paws as cushions, I was doing no such thing, I was just standing there. My brain wasn't working on anything intelligent, it was working on preserving my life. And I managed to grab on to something. I felt no hostility at all, meaning I should leave before I offend it. Just as I was about to run, the kitten pulled me closer, where did you get this sudden burst of strength!? Everything clicked into place upon calming down and taking the first step. Like the Lacrimas, the Queen's beauty was tainted. A huge red gash ran along from her belly, to her hindleg. Now I know why the kitten brought me here, and why I found it.

"How strange," a voice resonated in my head, one that commanded respect, yet, I felt it was forced, laboured from enduring pain, "you hold little fear compared to the ones that came here before." I stood there frozen, I wasn't anticipating that it could speak.

I faced the beast, don't show weakness, "well I've seen dragons before, if I didn't faint then, I certainly won't now."

"Dragons? Now that's something I haven't seen in a long time."

"Let's not drag this any longer, you have no plans to kill me do you?"

"Impatient and bold," she commented, "but you're correct, I'm sure you know why my child brought you here."

"If you wanted someone to heal you, try sending one that's more competent, it was starving." I shouldn't mock her child like that, but I know a thing or two in raising children.

It simply giggled, "true, Lily just started to learn not too long ago, I couldn't even show her how to." I assumed the wound prevented her from teaching the kitten properly.

Feeling a bit more comfortable, I asked the one thing burning in my head, "how did you even get this injured?"

"Your kind has been tampering with the magic here," I don't think she was blaming me, just stating the facts, "Lacrimas I believe you call them. It was a week ago when I was teaching Lily how to hunt, I decided the lower levels would be more suitable for her. However, the ground started to shake and before I knew it, a Lacrima was tumbling straight towards Lily."

"You took the blow for her." If they are one of the victims of these mining, perhaps I can get some information out of them.

"Yes, ever since then, Lily has been running around the mountain, though I tried to stop her," she gave her daughter a glare, "every time she returned, only feathers or fur accompanied her," the Queen looked at a pile of the stuff she was referring to, it was hard to tell, however, I think she was smiling. If so, it stemmed from gratitude.

"You seem pretty happy that she couldn't bring back any food for you."

"You noticed?"

"I've raised a child before, of course I know what it feels like when your child does her best to help you, even if the end result doesn't help."

She licked Lily happily. "It's as you say, I'm thankful that she's doing her best, but at this rate, I won't heal in time and she'll starve. I believe your kind has developed some sort of healing magic? With that, I want you to bring someone to heal me." Wendy came to my mind. I don't know where she is…

"That magic is considered lost, I only know two people that can use it. Both of them, I don't know where they are. Without them, I can still help you. However," I'm confident in finding plants that aid with recovery, feeding her would be a pain but, not impossible, "you know this, seeing how we're gathering Lacrima here, you know our kind is greedy. I'm no exception, I can't do charity." I pressed for my main goal in coming here.

"That surprises me, didn't you do some for my daughter?"

"I did it on a whim." A more defined smile was on her lips.

"Then what do you wish for?"

"Information." That took her off-guard and her calculating eyes shifted around the cave ever so slightly. "A mother wouldn't let strangers wander around her territory, that means you've done some investigation around them. I'm after these people. They're planning something I don't want to happen."

"We're after the same thing then," she sighed, "I'll tell you everything I know if you're willing to fulfil your end of the deal."

"For now," I took off my bag and laid all the food I have on the ground, "you'll need energy." This is the most inefficient way to gather information, I could easily follow the two goons until I find the one overlooking the operation. However, I know how important a child is to a mother, having the child starve to death when it hasn't had to joys of life yet, will haunt me. "I'm Ultear."

"Diana."

"I want to add one more condition. Once you're recovered, can you stop those idiots from mining more Lacrima?"

"I was planning to do so. Despite my appearance, my methods aren't elegant at all. Wouldn't it be better for you to stop them?"

"That would attract more unnecessary than I would like. Having a disaster such as you would alienate the chances of people suspecting another human tampering. Though I would be thankful if you keep them alive, most of them are just working for quick money."

"Only if they run when they see me."

"That wouldn't be a problem."

Thanks for reading! I felt like this chapter didn't put too much emphasis on each part of the mountain, I don't believe I highlighted each part correctly. But I don't really know how to write more about it without it seeming like padding, I guess that's just more to learn on my part.

Another I thing I would like to point out is if Ultear seems unfazed after walking into a den that can kill her in and instant, that's because I don't have a good grasp on how to write fear without using the old tropes, you know, knees shaking, all that stuff. I don't want to fill it with stuff like that. And I have been trying to avoid using easy lines like those. Its pretty darn hard, I guess that's why they became common in the first place, because they're good. I'll try better next time, until then, forgive me for the shoddy writing.

On the side note, I still hope the pacing isn't too fast on this chapter. On the story as a whole I do think its a bit on the slow side, a huge contradiction, I know. I realized a long time ago, most of the stuff I put on here, I'm never full satisfied. And now that I think about it, I can hardly find anything to praise from my stories. Am I begging for praise? God no, I'm stating facts while I'm on the topic and praying that I don't sound like I'm asking for praise. That being said, Ultear's character is starting to get a bit more defined. Fingers-crossed on more of this.

Rambling aside, I can see this arc ending in the next chapter, I do find it pretty hard to think of a good ending on it though. That's like another day or two mulling in front of a blank page.

For now, I hope you enjoyed, and have a good day!