Standing By

Lady Countryrose

Ch. 17

Hermione woke up the next morning. With Cobra's embrace, with her back against him. Across the tent, she saw Midnight sprawled out, on his own bed. Snoring like he hadn't slept in days.

She felt Cobra's left arm, wrapped around her, his hand laying over her lower abdominal area. While his right lay across her waist. His nose graced across her neck. Causing her to shiver in ways she never imagined. Just before she felt sharp teeth lightly across her shoulder blade.

A purr left his lips, while she gasped. "What are you doing?"

"Imagining where I would place my mark. After we marry of course. After this stupid wild mission. But I wouldn't be able to live without you, soon after."

"Cobra," Midnight growled out, before turning in his bed to look at them. "How cute, seeing you all love dovy. You Cobra, were a cold- hearted dragon. Only for you to become an animal of another kind."

Cobra chuckled darkly. "Jealousy will get you nowhere. Just admit that you need to find your own love interest."

Hermione rolled her eyes. She zapped Cobra, from a snap of her fingers. Only to cause him to purr into her ear. Only to feel something poking her lower back.

"Now, now. No more of that, you're just turning me on, sweetheart," he purred softly.

Hermione huffed but managed to get out his hold. Glared at him. Then walked out the tent.

"Thanks a lot Midnight. You scared her off."

Hermione sighed before finding a seat next to Lucy. Who had already asked Virgo to make breakfast that morning.

Lucy smiled softly. "Who woke you up?"

"Cobra," then Hermione had gone on to explain what happened. Only for Lucy to giggle. "Really, did all that?"

Hermione glared at her before Virgo served her a cup of coffee. Which made Hermione believe it was a sixteen ounce drink. She drank her coffee, while eating an egg, sausage sandwich.

After a while, Gajeel walked into camp. After what looked like he was scouring the area. "We're about a ten minute walk from the tunnels. Not thirty, like I had judged yesterday. "

Cobra walked out of his tent, with Midnight behind him. "I could have told you that. But I wanted some rest before facing them. They haven't picked up we're here yet."

"What about the others?"

Cobra closed his eyes for a moment. "They're about ten miles out." He pointed to the southwest. "They're waking up from their camp."

Gajeel grunted, "Good." Before eating some ore.

When the group was done. Virgo packed and cleaned the campsite. Where it looked like no one had been there. Then they moved through the woods. Giving them a seek in approach.

After ten minutes of walking, the group hid behind trees. Only not anyone at the entrance.

"Cobra," asked Gajeel.

"Nothing," he replied.

Hermione grabbed her key. Sirius came out in his Grim Hound form. "Can you help us track the people within?" He nodded before he came to her and nosed the antler heart key. Hermione smiled before calling out James, standing before her, ready for battle.

Sirius and James walked ahead of the group. Where Hermione and Lucy followed. Leaving Gajeel, Cobra and Midnight walking behind them. Each not in a talking mood. Only to keep an ear out for what's in the caves.

Sirius with his nose on the ground. Led the group deep within the ground. Only for Sirius to growl on eleventh level.

Cobra spoke up, "He says he can smell a group of six people. But one of them seems hurt, since he smells blood."

The group cautiously made their way further. Only to find themselves going into the tunnel system, thirty-five. Sirius turned into his human form. Cobra made his way to the front of the group. Where Sirius and James at each side of him, before leading the way.

"Errrik," a voice called out. "Macccbetttth! I know you're there! I see that you've brought the party."

"Who the Hell are you," growled Cobra. "You seem to know who we are."

Hermione had a bad feeling about the whole thing.

"I guess time has passed, as our childhoods slipped away. Like the sands beneath our feet. Enslaved by those that hunger for power."

Midnight huffed, "Nothing new there!"

Sirius pulled away from the front. Only to walk alongside Hermione. While Gajeel closed in to walk near Lucy.

"What do you want," Cobra called out darkly. Growling at the voice.

"Just trying to bring the gang back together." A flash of light came on. Where they could see makeshift caves with bars. With a person within each cave.

"Racer, Angel, and Richard." Midnight gasped out, after seeing some old friends. Then turned to a bar cave behind him, only to growl out. "WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

Hermione turned to what was causing him pain. Only to see a girl, similar to her, chained to the wall. "GRACE," she screamed, before rushing to the bars. Only for Sirius to grab her. "No, I need to help her!"

"The bars are full of electronic charge! We need to find another way to get her out," Sirius holding on to her.

Hermione cried, "Grace, what are you doing here?"

She tried to pull on the chains. "All I remember was laying in the forest. After falling from the sky. Then got grabbed and brought here."

"When was this," asked Hermione.

Grace shook her head. "I don't know. Maybe over a week."

Cobra turned to his old friends. "Why are you here?" Seeing that all three of them were unharmed, except Richard. Who was sporting a black eye.

Angel sighed, sitting her back to the wall. Shrugging her shoulders. "Don't know, I was just walking down the street with Richard. As we were heading to Sabertooth Guild when we jumped."

Racer sighed, "I was out on a job, when I was ambushed near some tree sap. Which prevented me from running."

Out of the deep shadows a couple of men walked into the light. "Remember me now?"

"Nope, can't say that I do," replied Cobra. Sounding indifferent about the whole thing.

"How about Riverstone, the rock crowler mage," the man hissed out.

Which caused Angel to hop up from her seat. Trying to move further into her cave. Quivering. "No, you're dead! I saw you die!"

The man laughed out loud. Causing everyone to step back. "During the mass breakout that Jellal had done for Scarlett. I was left down here in magic canceling cuffs. While rocks were falling overhead!"

Midnight asked, "How did you get out?"

"I didn't, a small group of survivors and rock hounds found me. Then nursed me back to health. We have been living here, having no place to go."

Riverstone had taken a deep breath. "Over time, we had been building up our magic. Abiding our time. We heard that you've traveled with Jellal for a time. Being part of Scarlett's guild. Thought it was time to meet up again, Erik."

"Why should I care?"

"Because we're blood brothers Erik," he chuckled darkly. "Not birth brothers. But brothers that we exchanged blood, stating that we'll look out for each other. BUT WHERE WERE YOU?!"

Midnight moved closer to Cobra. "As I remember, I was part of that too. So, why aren't you mad at me?"

"You were the youngest, so he would watch you closer than me. But, why haven't you come back, Erik?"

Cobra sighed, "I was a kid. I was scared. I had the others to look after. Plus, Angel saw you died. I couldn't leave them, if I believed you weren't there for me to save."

Riverstone growled, "Understandable, but wrong answer!" At the sound of a whistle from his lips. Many things happened at once.

Hermione and Lucy were pushed to the middle, close to Grace's cage. While the men surrounded them, ready for battle. Lucy called out Scorpio for help. While Hermione called Professor Snape for ideas.

He glared at Hermione for a moment, shaking his head. "Good thing about being a Death Eater, I knew how to break through wards." With a twist of his wrist. He unlocked all the bars. Letting everyone go. "Call Lily," before he whisked himself away.

Hermione rushed to Grace's side, calling for Lily. Once she was there, she brought a bag full of medical supplies with her.

"Lily, please help my cousin." The red-headed woman rushed to her side and gave aid. "Why didn't you tell me that you could heal people?"

Lily pulled a vial out of her bag and helped Grace drink it. "I felt James in the distance. I forgot to mention that I could heal."

Grace glared at her sore wrists. Before glancing around the small battle around them. "We're no longer on Earth, are we?" After seeing a rock being broken down by poison.

"No," Hermione whispered softly. "We're not."

At that moment, a giant rock came at them. Only for Midnight to jump in front of them. Reflecting back to where it came from. He turned to them, "Can she be moved?"

Lily nodded, "Yeah she can. But we must hurry, it doesn't look like your friend can hold back, much longer."

Midnight stepped closer. Picked up Grace into his arms. Allowing her to lay her head on his shoulder.

Hermione called out, "Sirius, James! Help get the guys out. Lucy, help Angel!"

Together they got everyone who needed help. Leaving the two Dragon Slayers behind. In a mid charge.

Once out in the open air. They ran into Team Natsu. All gearing for battle. Lucy told the group what they learned and where to find them.

"I'M ALL FIRED UP," cried Natsu, before rushing in. Followed by Gray, "Slow down, Hot Head!"

Erza sighed, "Wendy should be here in fifteen minutes. At least from what Natsu had said… " Then followed after, with Jellal at her heels.

Lily focused on Grace. Since she was more harmed than the others. Each potion and cream. Grace started to look better. "All she needs is rest." Before she left them.

Hermione turned to Midnight. "Why are you still here, shouldn't you help Cobra?"

He shook his head. His red eyes looked into her brown ones. "I don't think I can." He leaned against a tree, moving Grace to lay her head on his leg. "I just can't leave her."

Within moments Thunder God Tribe came with Wendy, who helped with Racer, Angel and Richard. Only to find that they were just exhausted from their ordeal.

"What can you tell us, Blondy?"

"YOUR BLONDE TOO," screeched Lucy. Before explaining what they had learned.

Laxus huffed, "So, someone from their past. Who they thought was dead, only to find a mad man? Yeah, same old, same old… "

Just before they knew it. The ground shook. The trees waved violently, as limbs snapped around them. Before the ground opened, just a few hundred feet from them.

Only for everyone that was with the caves, to be spit out. By the new split from the ground. Causing everyone to gasp in disbelief.

"Where are the Fairy Tail Mages I heard about? How in Hades were you ever bested, Erik?!"

Cobra smirked from where he laid. "They were holding back." He turned to Natsu. "Alright you Fire Ass, time for you to get to work!"

Natsu chuckled darkly, "Gladly." He pulled his hand back, while fire whispered around his first. "FIRE DRAGON FIST!" Singling for others to follow suit, even Laxus' team fall into an attack.

Hermione stayed back with those that couldn't fight. She prevented Lucy from going. "It's important that we keep the injured safe, since they can't fight for themselves."

Lucy nodded, "I know. I just don't like helping my friends."

Grace groaned before pushing herself up. Midnight rushed to her and helped her up. "What are you doing," he hissed softly.

"Stopping this useless fight." She stumbled onto her feet. Pulling from Midnight's arms and rushed to the battle. Only to be surprisingly unharmed. "Riverstone! See into your Grace's Reflection!"

She raised her hands towards the raging man. He was about to strike with his magic, only to stop. Seeing an image of himself before him. "What nightmare is this," he whispered. Causing everyone to relax.

He couldn't stop looking at the image. "Macbeth, is this your magic?"

"Not his," Grace spoke up, just as Macbeth wrapped his arm around her. "That is Grace's Reflection. Showing you what your life is, could be and what could be if you change."

The man began to tear up. "Why show mercy? When I wasn't with you?"

Grace smiled softly, "I like to help people. Even those that are lost." She then passed out. Allowing Macbeth picking her up into his arms.

The mirror-like image was gone. Riverstone fell to the ground, laying down in defeat. Causing everyone to fall down in relief. Except for Natsu, who just looked bored.

"This wasn't much fun, or challenging… "

Surprise no one at all.