Oh my god, had really two months already passed?

I am sorry, lovelies :( I had many things going on, but now I am back!

Let's go back to Fiore. We left Cobra on a train to Era, and the Thunder Legion in Linveland, ready to catch the train to Magnolia...


Lunchtime, Fairy Tail guild hall...

Lucy eyed the brawl around her. Fairy Tail was full of life and screams, as always. Mirajane was cheerful, as she handed Macao and Nab their beers, Cana had already finished her first barrel of booze of the day, and Lisanna was squealing after an attack from Max had almost knock her down.

Yeah, Max and Natsu were wrestling again. The Sand mage was still mad because Natsu had beaten him after their return from Tenrou Island.

Lucy found Max persistency admirable. At Grand Magic Games, Natsu had proved to be one of the strongest, if not the strongest mage of their guild. Challenging the fire dragon slayer was a waste of time, at least if didn't want to end up well-cooked and crispy.

"I am not done with you!" bellowed Max, standing up after Natsu had knocked him down for the fourth time that morning. "Sand Wave!"

If there was something Natsu didn't need was encouragement during a fight. "I am all fired up!" he cried. "Fire Dragon's Crushing Fang!"

"You two brats! If you destroy the guild again-" shouted Master Makarov from his spot on the bar counter, but was promptly interrupted by Cana "Go Natsu! Destroy him! I have bet a barrel on you!"

"Hey!" Natsu lifted his head and frown "Max is my enemy!"

Lucy rolled her eyes. Why Natsu's brain was not functioning during fights, was comprehensible. But how does he manage to win every single fight when he does not even... Lucy let out a sigh. She really hoped that Cana didn't want to join the two, for once. It was already noisy enough, and it was only lunchtime.

"Yeah" Cana smirked, "And I am the enemy of you both! Random Throwing!"

Of course she does, Lucy thought, changing place and sitting on a stool far from the fight. She didn't want her strawberry smoothie to be ruined by some flying cards, or sand, or dragon flames, or anything else. She was not in the mood. She missed those snarky comments on the fight, those poison puffs thrown randomly into the fight.

"Lucy, is everything alright?" Mirajane voice cut into her thoughts.

"Uh?" Lucy turned.

"You looked very sad, Lucy..." Mirajane blue eyes were understanding and kind as always. "Is because of Cobra, isn't it?" she asked softly.

Lucy nodded, lowering her head. "They came this morning. It was... It was horrible."

Mirajane cheerful smile was replaced by a very serious expression. "I am also worried, Lucy. We all are." she said, placing a hand on the Celestial mage shoulder. "But he is going to come back. We all know that no one is supposed to be taken back to prison while they are on probation, unless it is for real good reasons, which didn't stand in the case of Cobra..."

Lucy saw the barmaid's eyes flash with anger. "Let me tell you the same thing I told Kina this morning... Master already told me I will leave to Era in a couple of days, if Cobra is not back... Mirajane eyes darkened suddenly, as her pupils shrank and a small crack appeared on her cheek. "And I really hope to go, Lucy. Do you want to know why?"

Lucy swallowed heavily, seeing Satan soul starting to surface. "I hope to go to Era, Lucy, so that I can personally show Lahar my discontent for his behaviour."

Mirajane's nails grew a few inches, digging into Lucy shoulder and tightening their grip. "It's been a while I wanted Lahar and his lot to meet Sitri..." whisper the demon. "Alegria also has been absolutely eager to meet them... You have no idea Lucy..."

"You will not-" Lucy trembled. "Not going to hurt them, right?"

"Hurting?" Mira pulled out a wicked smile, that had Lucy wished she never asked. "Oh, my dear, Lucy, I am only planning to have a little fun with them. Just fun, understand?"

"Understand!" croaked Lucy. She remember too well Mirajane's punishment after the Grand Magic Games. Oh yes, Erza and the Celestial mage had to deal with the vicious barmaid and her notion of 'fun' for a whole day. Nothing she was going to forget soon, that was for sure.

"But this will not be necessary, right?" in a blink of an eye, Mirajane eyes had returned blue, her long black nails had disappeared and her skin was flawless once more.

Still, Lucy shivered as she saw some lecherous glint in Mira eyes. "Is Kinana ok?" asked quickly Lucy, hoping that a change of subject would have distract the demon from the punishment she wanted to inflict to the Captain of the rune Knights.

Mentioning Kinana did the job. Mira shoulders suddenly dropped. "Kina has been crying the whole morning." she whispered sadly. "She told me she was at the train station, ad saw them leaving... She told me that he was handcuffed and everything..."

Lucy leaned onto the counter and hugged tightly the barmaid. "She looked so heartbroken... I asked her to work in the kitchen, so she could have a little privacy for today..."

"You were so kind Mira.." Lucy felt a tickle in her eyes. "We went to his place this morning, to say goodbye... You should have seen Natsu and Gray... Even Erza was ready to... I don't know, Mira..."

"Come on Lucy." Mira released the Celestial mage and tugged her hands at her heart. She put out a small smile. "Everything is going to be alright. I know Gajeel and Lily are on the same train right now. They will keep an eye on him, I am sure."

Lucy smiled back. Yes, those two were ready to back Cobra, in case he needed help. Whatever they are doing to you, Cobra, we are not leaving you, and we are going to bring you back home.

A chair on fire crashed a few inches from where Lucy was sitting. Lucy let out a small scream of surprised, but Mira just looked at the fight in the center of the guild. "Do not break the chairs!" she said sweetly, as Gray and Erza joined the fight.

As Lucy turned to watch them, she saw Gray slamming a chair on Natsu's head.

"Is that so, Gray?" Mira frowned, her hands on her hips. Lucy busied instantly herself with her smoothie.

"Do not make me come there Gray..." Gray didn't seem to hear the barmaid. He was too involved into strangling Natsu, who was strangling him as well. The dragon slayer manage to let out half of a roar, but it missed the ice mage, and sent a table flying in the air. And falling a second later on Macao and Nab table, crashing the mugs half full of beer.

"Well, looks like I need to come there!" Mirajane frowned and headed towards the chaotic entangling that were Natsu and Gray.

Soon, Lucy hear some high pitched screams, and loud thuds. She sighed to herself. Her teammates were not showing their sadness explicitly, but they felt it was much as her. Her teammates were breaking pieces of furniture to vent their frustration. They were not showing their sadness explicitly, but they felt it was much as her.

If only we were in Era... she thought, looking at Makarov as he stomped from his spot on the bar counter and headed towards his office.

Lucy believe that, if they were in Era, Cobra would have felt better. She could almost hear him scolding her for being 'a damn fucking nice person', in his own words.

Well, it is worth a try. she thought, popping down from her stool and running after her guild Master.

"Master!" she called.

The fight behind her had resumed as soon as Mirajane was again behind the counter of the bar. Among the yelling in the guild hall, Makarov didn't heard Lucy calling him until they were at the door of his office. "Oh, Lucy! Hello!" he said cheerfully, opening the door and inviting her in. "How can I help you?"

"Master, it is about Cobra." she started, sitting in one of the chairs, as Makarov climbed his desk. "He is-" "Lucy, we have already discussed this!" the Master sat down. "Please, don't make this more difficult. I am the first one who would have sent you, but Gajeel and Lily are on their way, and-" "But he is alone!" cried Lucy, tears menacing fall once more that morning.

"I know Cobra is strong enough to take care of himself, but in front of the Council, he is more vulnerable than others!" she said. "He is a member of Fairy Tail, and we are a family! He would never say, but he needs someone with him right now!"

"I know Lucy." Makarov sighed. "But Lahar had made clear no one could accompany or assist him. And, before you ask, I can't send team Natsu to Era! If Lahar can act as he pleases, which I suspect, because he knows no one is going to stop him, the only thing we can do is avoid getting onto Lahar nerves as much-" "How about you send only me?" pleaded Lucy.

Makarov shook his head. "You know your team mates better than me, Lucy." he said, "They would follow you, no matter what I do. It is already difficult to keep all you five... See, now you with your puppy eyes are giving me trouble!" scolded the Master.

He wished to help Lucy feel better, really. He understood the sensation of powerlessness she was feeling. He felt the same way, and he knew how much upset she was. I must find a way, something that made her feel of some help. Something like... His eyes widen, when an idea popped in his mind.

"Lucy, how about you help another dragon slayer, for the time being?" he asked.

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Another dragon slayer? Who?"

"Oh, well, let's make a call, so you can have all the details!" Makarov said with enthusiasm.

A few minutes later, a blonde, bulky man appeared on the greenish screen of the communication lacryma.

"Laxus!" greeted Makarov. "How is it going? Are you still in Linveland?"

"Hey Gramps." Laxus waved, "The crystal, or magic barrier, or whatever, is gone. She is still sleeping, but she can be moved. We are at the train station now. We-oh. Hey, blondie."

Laxus had suddenly noticed Lucy behind his grandfather. He stirred and stopped, unsure of what to do. Makarov didn't tell them to keep Dalila's finding as a secret, but maybe he wanted the other guild mates to wait before they knew about the wind dragon slayer...

"No worries, Laxus." Makarov gestured Lucy to come forward. "Lucy is here because I want her to help the poor child once she wakes up!"

Lucy raised an eyebrow. The poor child?

"I would like you to explain to her what happened in the Blue Mountains in the last couple of days, and everything you guys have discovered so far."

"Uh. I see." Laxus shrugged. Dalila would have needed a good load of help once she was awake. Lucy was a good idea, he dcided. "Well, the train leaves in two hours, so we have plenty of time for-" he suddenly jump, for an helmet - or better say, Bickslow - appeared right behind him, and screamed "Cosplayer!" an inch from the lighting dragon slayer ear.

Lucy waved to the helmet. "Hi, Bickslow!"

"Bicks, don't yell in my ear!" barked Laxus. "Well, Blondie, take a sit." he continued, glaring at the Seith mage next to him - and probably sending a bolt of lighting to him, as Lucy heard a loud yelp.

"This is going to be a long story..."


An hour later, still in Makarov's office...

Lucy was shocked. She looked around and met Makarov eyes.

"Master," she asked tentatively, "Is... Is all of this true?"

Makarov nodded. "Yes, it is, my child. I have also talked with the First last night."

"And Dalila..." Lucy hesitated, "Does she knows how much time had passed?" she finally asked.

Makarov shook his head. "No, Lucy, she doesn't know."

"But..." the Celestial mage was at loss of words. "Her family... She doesn't know..."

"That they are dead?" Laxus asked abruptly. "No, she does not, blondie. Bicks said she has been kept in a sort of suspension by the crystal that surrounded her. It was like she had been sleeping."

She has no idea... Oh my stars. "And how... We must tell her. How can we do, Master?" Lucy asked, with her eyes wide open.

The whole situation was unbelievable. Trapped inside a magic barrier for ninety years, and now.. Everything was changed, but most important, the people she knew were simply... It is like what happened to us after Tenrou Island, thought Lucy. It was like what happened to me after Tenrou Island, she corrected.

Lucy felt her heart clench. Even if almost a year had passed since when Tenrou Island had emerged from the depth of the sea, thanks to the First Master, the loss of her father was still hunting her. She had spent countless hours asking herself what would have happened, if she had not been frozen with the Island for sever years. Meybe they could have had finally that loving father-daughter relationship she had always dreamt about.

But losing everyone... Lucy felt her skin crawl. That was another matter. She could not imagine who she could survive, if she had lost Natsu, Erza, Gray and Wendy, and all the other members of the guild. If her Spirits suddenly had disappeared, after those seven years.

"Master, we need to help her!" stated the Celestial mage, closing her fists. "It was like when we came back from Tenrou. Time had passed for everyone, but for us!"

"Cosplayer is true, Gramps." muttered Bickslow. "The chick will be lost."

Makarov nodded. He hadn't thought about Dalila in those terms before. He was well aware she was going to need someone to comfort her when she woke up, but recalling how they survived Acnologia's attack at Tenrou... That was throwing new light on the whole matter.

"I will help you." a tiny voice said. Everyone turned to see Mavis, slowly approaching. The First had a look so sad on her face, and Lucy had never saw her like that.

"Dalila was my friend," Mavis whispered, "and it is my fault if she ended up there, so... I will be the first to talk to her, as soon as she wakes up."

Lucy thought it was a good idea. Non only because Mavis felt responsible for her friend. "First," she said quietly "I think you are the only person she knows here. I doubt any other of her friends of family..." Lucy didn't end the sentence. She knew the feeling of loneliness and guilt, having left one of her parents behind.

"If I may interrupt you..." Freed face appeared on the screen. "After grabbing lunch I went to the Archives to check a few more things, and-" "This is why our lunch was dead cold?" asked Bickslow from behind Laxus, with an angry voice, and probably again too close to Laxus's ear. The slayer jumped on his seat and shot him a death-look. "Mh, sorry boss."

"I found out", Freed said loudly, ignoring Bickslow comment "that there is no-one we can contact to tell the news of her finding. Her parents died long ago. One of her friends was mentioned in the newspapers, but she died more than thirty years ago. Before I forget, Master, I stopped at a copy shop and made a copy of the newspaper Laxus and I found yesterday. If you or Dalila want to have a look at-" "You really let the lunch freeze for-OUCH!" "Bickslow! Don't fucking scream in my ear!" roared Laxus.

"She had a younger sister," Freed quickly resumed, "who never married, and died ten years ago years ago. I found no trace of Dalila's cousins, and she had no husband or fiancé and surely no children."

Of course none of them is alive, Lucy thought, Even if Dalila was twenty-two, almost a century had passed. If they were alive, they should be more than one-hundred. she quickly calculated. And even if there was someone so old, how could we found him or her? And would they recognise Dalila?

And on top of all, was the newborn dragon slayer ready for the shock of seeing a person she remembered young, so old?

Seeing her guild mates with beards and wrinkles, and Romeo so grown up, had been quite a shock for everyone. And it had been only seven years!

"I was only pointing out that Freed could have done all the researches before collecting our lunch, not after!" was bellowing Bickslow, but he clamped his mouth shut as Laxus growled menacingly.

"Next time, you do the copies for the Master!" huffed Freed, satisfied to have Laxus on his side this time. "And this is for how you woke me up this morning!" the rune mage added.

Makarov grunted something under his breath, about 'brats' unable to 'concentrate on the topic'.

While Freed was adding some extra information on the researches he had been conducting that morning, among Bickslow loud protests and Laxus growls, inside her head, Lucy was thinking that maybe it was better for Dalila to not have anyone left. If there was somebody, even once they send Dalila to him or her, what was she going to do, now that she was a dragon slayer? No, Lucy resolved, for how sad it is, it is better this way. For now, the best place for her is Fairy Tail.

Makarov was trying to calm his grandson down. "This is not the moment Laxus!" "I am fucking deaf right now! Let me just fry this idiot, Gramps, I will be right back..."

Freed took Laxus place in front of the lacryma. "Freed, are you sure-" "There is nothing to be worried about, Master." stated Freed, as if behind him there was not a very pissed dragon slayer about to electrocute a very scared Seith mage.

"Bickslow babies were carrying her, but they tend to get excited," Freed continued "and so I encased her in a rune box. She will be perfectly fine, no sounds can enter. I thought that with her new dragon slayer hearing, Dalila might have a rough wake up, and I don't think this is the case."

Especially with all the yelling that was going from Bickslow to Evergreen, Bickslow to Laxus, and well... Bickslow in general. He had himself a rough wake up that morning, and didn't wish that to anyone.

"Well done, Freed." "Ah, and Ever gave her some clothes, too." "Good. Very good."

She has no clothes? Lucy gears were running fast in her head. She will have no money either... Not even towels, sheets, and where will she stay? Maybe Lucy could get a roommate? That would cut the rent in two... she quickly calculated, but immediately slapped mentally herself. Wait, what I am even thinking at! She doesn't have anything with her! She will probably need... and then a thought hit her. The world she lived in, the world of ninety years ago, must have been very very different from this one... How was she going to take the change of habits? For all the stars and constellations, so much to think about! she thought, covering her face with her hands.

"May I ask, First, which kind of dragon slayer Dalila will be? We were thinking about moon or ice..." was politely asking Freed to Mavis, ignoring Makarov plea to Laxus to stop beating the hell out of Bickslow and go back to discuss about more important matters. "Please, Laxus! Stop!" "No Gramps, he fucking knows he doesn't have to shout in my ear!" roared the blonde.

Bickslow was about to say something, but all he let out was a loud squeak when a bolt of electricity went through his armour.

"It is indeed!" Mavis smiled, talking loudly to cover the high-pitched cries of Bickslow babies. They were hitting Laxus in the head and screaming "Stop! Stop! Stop!" right in his ear, which only pissed the blonde even more.

"She is the wind dragon slayer, Freed."

"Wind... I see..." Freed was clearly taking much pleasure from the fight behind his back. "We will have to teach her to use magic, right?"

"Yeah Gramps. How can we do that?" Laxus seemed satisfied with Bickslow and appeared again on the screen. "It is not that she can learn by herself, right?"

"She was not a mage before, Master. She had no clue on how it all works." Freed stated, with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"We will find a way." Makarov said. "The situation is not helpless, my children!"

He opened his arms, and waved them around him. "There is a guild full of wizards and witches that can teach her! And we will have plenty of time! First, we have to ensure the child wakes up, and that she is ok. She might even decide the doesn't want to be a mage, after all!"

"That would be a pity, Gramps." Laxus grunted. "Dragon slayer magic is powerful. It would be good if she stays at Fairy Tail, or in any other legal guild."

"We will do our best, Laxus." said Makarov. Lucy nodded frantically. "Yes, Master, we will!" she gave him a glowing, big smile.

The First looked at them. The Third Master smiling lovingly at his children, Lucy, the Celestial mage, with a determined look on her face, Laxus, Freed and Bickslow, smiling from the communication lacryma. Her guild, Fairy Tail. she felt a wave of pride and deep feeling, that tears started to stream involuntarily from her eyes. "I-I... Am so proud... Of you.. Thank you! Thank you so much!" the First sniffed.

"Please, First, don't cry!" Makarov pleaded. "Lucy will help Dalila, right Lucy?"

"Yes, sure!" Lucy straighten her back.

"Blondie will help? How?" On the creen, Laxus frowned.

Makarov smiled heartedly at his grandchild question. "Well, seeing how she did well with Cobra, and having Dalila need to get used to this new world she will live in, I think Lucy is the perfect person for this job." The master turned to the Celestial mage, who was speechless, and a little flustered. "Isn't that so, child? Will you help her?"

Mavis joined Makarov, her eyes shining with hope. "Will you help Dalila, right, Lucy?"

"Consider it as a mission I am entrusting to you, Lucy." smiled brightly Makarov.

Lucy looked at his Master, then at the first. She turned to Laxus, who was looking at her expectantly from the greenish lacrima screen.

She was not in the mood for cheering someone on that very moment - the events of the morning were still in her head. But a wound woman, who had lost everything, and was not alone in a world she did not recognise anymore, needed her help. And Lucy was not going to let her down.

A warm, confident smile spread her lips. "Yes, Master. I will not disappoint you!"


Dalila was floating.

Her body had no weight, and the darkness around her was cold and silent.

She felt she had been in that state for a while now, but she couldn't tell how long. She was barely present to herself, enough to feel the void that surrounded her.

Suddenly, whispers broke the frozen air, waking her attention.

Dalila tried to entangle thoughts and sensations from the black coldness around her, but failed. The whispers died away, and she could hear nothing more one more time.

But now she felt more awake, like a veil had been broken. She was able to form thoughts, at least.

'Am I dead?' was the first thing that came to her mind.

All that silence and darkness looked like the antechamber of death, or maybe they were death itself. Not that anyone had ever come back from the dead to tell.

Dalila chuckled at the thought. 'I doubt I could be pondering if I am dead or not, if I was really dead.'

So, maybe she was not dead, after all. 'Well, this is something.'

Maybe she was dreaming, and would wake up soon.

The space around her did not give her any answer.

Time seemed to be stopped, or to be too fast for her to think.

'What was I doing, before ending up into darkness?'

She tried to remember, but memories were slipping from her grasps, and getting lost in the emptiness that surrounded her. She tried to put her hands on her temples, to concentrate, but she suddenly realised she could feel no hand, nor finger. It was like all her body was there but refused to answer to her commands.

'What is going on here?'

She was starting to get worried. Her mind to seize the tail of an image that suddenly passed in front of her, but failed.

Dalila drifted more deeply into darkness, and suddenly she saw - or better, she believe she saw - a light in the darkness, a luminous thread that danced lightly, twirling and vibrating, motioning her to follow.

Dalila pulled and pushed, with all her strength, with the body she was not feeling - but did she still have body? she was pretty sure she had one, once... If only everything would not be so confused in her mind...

Finally, she seemed to advance towards the light - wait, or was the glowing line that was coming towards her?

Darkness enlightened, and sounds filled the silence. A vision lacerated the shadows, and Dalila saw... herself.

As the scene became cleared and bigger, she saw the Dalila in front of her running desperately, in what seemed to be a tunnel.

The scene enlarged more, and she saw two figures running at her side. The features of their faces became clearer and clearer, and Dalila could make out their feared expressions, their dirty clothes - as much as her own, she noticed.

'What is this? Where have I been?' she asked herself, looking at her twin, running desperately inside the tunnel. 'I am escaping from something?'

Two other figures were moving behind them. One of them holding something that resembled a rifle. Dalila shivered, and felt something cold grow inside her, as if she was foreseen what was to happen.

She looked back at her, and at the men that were with her. She scanned their faces. Didn't they look familiar, somehow?

She stared at them, puzzled. 'Jared?' she asked, 'Jean?'

She gasped. Jared and Jean Trets, her longtime friends! How she could have forgot about them?

'Wait, what is happening? Where are we?' Dalila looked powerless as the man with the rifle shot, missing them. He let out a snarl, and charged the rifle again.

Another figure came into view. It was a tall, raven haired young man. His neck and head had kind of a weird shape, but Dalila didn't notice it. She was more concerned with the man hands, from were long ivy branches were spreading. The ivy branches shot towards the man with the rifle, but missed him.

'Mavis!' shouted the strange man. 'We need to hurry!'

Only then Dalila notice a small figure, with long, fair hair, that was in front of the Jean, Jared and herself.

'Mavis?' that name woke something up in Dalila's mind. 'Mavis... Mavis! Oh my god!' Dalila let out a small, mute cry. 'Mavis! Warrod! The mine in Linveland! Oh my god!' she thought, 'I remember! I remember it all!'

Jared and Jean disappeared, as other citizens as before. Her visit to the mayor of Linveland, insisting for him to call some mages from a guild, to retrieve the missing men and women, and hopefully her friends. The meeting with Mavis and Warrod, 'from Fairy Tail', she remembered, and their journey to the mountains, in the woods were Jean and Jared went, and from were they didn't come back. And then, her own kidnapping. The loss of consciousness, and the scared, Jared dirty face when he woke her up, in a cold, humid stone cell, deep down in one of the misusage mine tunnels.

'Mavis and Warrod... They came. They saved us!' thought Dalila.

The criminals - dark mages, she recalled to herself - that capture them wanted to do something, but she didn't remember what. Apparently Mavis and Warrod had arrived just in time. They had took Jean, and freed Jared and Dalila, and run towards one the upper part of the mine, towards the light of the day. They were almost safe.

Dalila looked expectantly at the scene, but she painfully knew they were not going to see light anymore. She saw herself clutching something at her chest, something small and bright, that was lighting her path. But also, making her more visible to the dark mages behind them.

Warrod cast another spell, knocking down the mage with the rifle. For an instant, Dalila felt a glint of hope.

But the man on the ground threw the rifle to his companion 'Shot the girl!' he cried.

Dalila saw the mage lifting the rifle, aiming at the glowing light in front of him. 'No!' cried Warrod, casting another spell.

As time slowed down, Dalila saw Warrod branches appear in the air from his fingers one more time. But he was too slow. The bullet exited the cane of the rifle, and flew towards herself.

She saw her twin turning with a look of horror, clutching at her chest that shiny stone.

The bullet had almost hit her. It came closer, and closer, and...

An explosion of light illuminated the cave. Dalila was blinded, and she backed away from the vision. She heard the mountain rumbled and crack, Jean and Jared scream in horror. The anguished cry of Warrod and Mavis.

The ceiling of the tunnel, fell into pieces, giant stones tumbling down. Dalila felt a tear running down her cheek, as she saw herself being buried by the debris.

The last thing she saw, the look fo horror of her companions, as Warrod jumped ahead, branches of woods grabbing Jean and Jared by the waist, pulling them forward. The rest of the tunnel crumbled behind them.

Mavis cry resonated once more. 'Dalila! DALILA!'

Then, the vision blurred, and Dalila was alone once more.

'Mavis... I am sorry...' Dalila cried.

Shadows drunk her words and her sobs, and she descended once more into coldness.

She cried, for she knew now that she was dead. She cried for what seemed an eternity.

But then, from the depth of the space and time, a voice echoed. 'Why are you crying?'

Dalila sniffed. She looked around, or tried to, but all she saw was pitch black.

'Why are you crying?' asked the voice, once more.

It was a female voice, which Dalila had never heard before. It was soothing and melodic, chanting words as if they were a lullaby.

'I... I am dead' Dalila sobbed, feeling a lump in her throat.

'Do you really think you are?' asked again the voice.

For a moment, Dalila had the strange sensation that the voice was much more closer than what it seemed.

A jolt of electricity run towards her body. 'Am I not?' she thought.

'Seems so.' chuckled the voice. Again, it looked like it was coming from a place very closed to her. Or either, it was all around her.

'I am going to keep my promise.' the voice said.

'Promise?' Dalila asked. 'Which promise?

'Oh.' the voice sounded disappointed now. 'Don't you remember?'

Remember? No, she didn't remember anyone making her any promise. Anyone who could be were she was now, anyway.

'Don't you worry.' the voice was gentle once more. 'You will remember. But now you have to prepare. It is almost time for you to wake up!'

'Wake up?' asked Dalila. She was about to point out that she was already up - well, kind of - when a sudden pull sent her upwards.

'Wait, what is happening?' she asked, as an unknown force was dragging her.

'You need to wake up, Dalila.' chuckled the voice. 'It is time.'

'Time for what?'

'Don't worry, you will see.' the voice became more distant, as it was belonging to the darkness that the strange force was pulling her away from.

'No, wait a minute!' cried Dalila. 'What will happen? Who are you?'

'I am you and you are me!' chuckled the voice, but Dalila wasn't sure she heard well. 'What does it mean?' she tried, but apparently the voice was too distant to hear her.

The force kept pulling her upwards and upwards, ascending slowly, in a time that seemed to be infinite...


Later that evening, Lucy's apartment...

After talking with Master and Laxus about Dalila, Lucy had headed home. She had agreed with them to wait a little bit before announcing the arrival of a new dragon slayer at the guild. They didn't know if Dalila was going to stay at Fairy Tail. They were going to help her as best as they could, but then, she would have been free to go.

In particular, Master had expressed the will that her power was not to be mentioned. He feared that Dalila could have been an easy target, if she ever decided to leave Magnolia, and the news of a young, non-expert dragon slayer roaming around alone.

Moreover, her team had silently agreed they were not going to take any job request until Cobra was back. When Lucy went back to the guild hall, they were all still battling with the rest of the guild members, as always.

But soon, they alla scattered around. Wendy and Charle went with Porlyusica in the woods. They asked Lucy if she wanted to join, but the Celestial mage had refused. "I need to do some laundry and cleaning at my place... Next time I will come!"

"Sure, Lucy? It would be a good way to... distract us a little." Charle had said.

But Lucy didn't feel like going into the woods with the healer. And she really had some housework to do.

Houseworks always helped her clean her mind. Working with her hands immersed in the soapy water, dusting and removing all the little stains on the kitchen wall, had always been relaxing. Seeing the house sparkling was a satisfaction.

She changed her bedsheets, did some laundry, reorganised her bookshelves. By the end of the day, her house smell of clean clothes, lavander and vanilla. The thoughts about Cobra, and about the upcoming dragon slayer, were still rounding in her head, but she was a little bit more positive about them. It is not like things are not going to work out. she said, as she filled the bath tube with hot water.

I hope Dalila will stay at Fairy Tail. The wind dragon slayer... Maybe she has some healing powers like Wendy? she asked herself, entering the steamy water.

Lucy closed her eyes, letting the smell of vanilla and strawberry of her bubble bath surround her. A layer of pink lather was almost flooding onto the bathroom floor, but Lucy didn't mind.

And with her eyes closed, she missed the golden pillar which appeared next to her. A young man stepped outside the light, adjusting the collar of his suit. His head was covered with a massive mane of orange-gold hair, and he was wearing small, rectangular glasses.

"Ah, my Queen." beamed Leo the Lion, kneeling down and whispering in Lucy's ear. "I am glad you are finally relaxing. It had been a hard day."

"EEEK!" Lucy eyes shot open, and she let out a scream that made she glass of the window tremble. "LEO?"

"I am, Princess!"

"No, I mean, I am in the bath tube, Leo!" Lucy face turned crimson, from both embarrassment and anger. "How many times did I told you-"

"Not to open my gate without warning?"

"No!"

"Not to whisper in your ear?"

"NO!"

"Did I mention how you are stunning today? As everyday, my precious, my one and only..." Leo seized Lucy's free hand - the other one had went to cover her breast, which was already hidden under the lather, but it was an instinctive gesture.

"Uff, nevermind..." groaned Lucy, letting Leo planting a few soft kisses on the back of her hand.

Leo was a pervert sometimes, but only when she was fully dressed. And if there was something the Celestial Spirit would not do, it was making her uncomfortable. It was true that Lucy had felt the warming presence of her keys for the whole day, and she had thanked them pressing them to her heart. She did not asked for consolation - she knew they were there for her, and that was the most important thing for her.

So, part of her was not surprised to see Loke smiling at her from behind her glasses, giving her a wink, and letting her hand go after planting one last, soft kiss.

Lucy returned the smile. "Thank you, Leo." she murmured. And it was not that she was naked. Ok, she was, but there were plenty of bubbles covering her body. It was not the worst situation she had been in, considering she had been flying in her birth suit all over Crocus, ending up in a barrel with Natsu buried around her breasts.

"Always a pleasure, my queen." Lion adjusted his glasses and sat down next to the bath tube. "How are you feeling? We all felt your sorrow today, we were worried."

"I am upset about Cobra, Leo." sighed Lucy hugging her knees. "I am sure Lahar has no good reason for retrieving him, even if it was only for a day. He is just doing it because he is the Captain and he can. No one is going to go against his actions. Only a member of the Council could put a spoke in his wheel, but I assume no one dares to step in. Cobra is still considered a dangerous criminal, and no one will take the trouble to take his sides."

Leo nodded sadly. He understood perfectly Lucy reasoning. "No one is taking the risk to vouch for him, to not run the risk to be called out if he goes back to his criminal activities."

"He would never!" frowned Lucy.

"Sure he would not. I know that, princess, don't you worry." Leo smiled. "I have actually come to like this addition to team Natsu."

Lucy expression relaxed. "I know you like him, Leo." she giggled.

Cobra was doing nothing to make her Spirits like him - he was neutral towards them, and Aries, Scorpio and Gemini were still afraid of him. At the beginning, Leo had been very wary around him - quite a lot, in fact - but the Spirit soon had realised that Cobra was an ass, but with not bad intentions. And despite his snarky comebacks, his constant scowl and his determination to keep everyone at bay, the Celestial Spirit actually liked him.

The only merit Leo could individuate in Cobra was his honesty - abrupt honesty, but that was not the point - but then there was something else. The Celestial Spirit had little idea of what it was, but he had the feeling that, even if he was not showing it, Cobra was actually a nice person. A caring one, in his own way.

Once Cobra had openly told Lucy to stop whining and start training more, if she wanted to become stronger. That had left the Celestial Mage upset and sorry at first, but then she had realised that what Cobra meant was not that she was weak, but that she was not making herself stronger. So, he believed she could be stronger. And she had started training more, with Caprico and Leo, and had improved. And even if she hadn't fully realised, Leo know that without the ice bucket Cobra had thrown at her, she would had not take the decision to train constantly. Or at least, do her best to do it.

So, Leo liked Cobra. And in the Spirit World he was, if not accepted, at least tolerated. For the years he spent in prison, and for the loyalty he had proved to Fairy Tail.

The Lion lowered his golden mane and sighed. "I am sure they will not keep him away for long, Lucy. That would make no sense - and I don't think they could. It is not allowed, otherwise, why giving him parole?"

"Yes, but Leo..." Lucy's voice trailed off. "Even one day is important for him." she resumed. "Even knowing that they can take him back whenever they want, this changes everything. He values his freedom, and if he knows they can take it away... It is like they were snatching his dream in front of his eyes."

Lucy felt anger rise into her chest, once more. "We did so much to help him with his new life... Going back to prison means that he has to start it all over again!"

"Cobra is not weak, Lucy. I am sure he knows." Leo comforted her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "And he knows that Lahar hates Fairy Tail as much, and the only thing the Captain can do, apart sending noted of complain for whatever reason, this is his only mean to cut deep into Fairy Tail feelings. But we will not recede, my queen. We need to be strong!"

"Yes." Lucy nodded. "They will not destroy us, and Cobra is strong, Leo. But... he doesn't open up that much. I am afraid there are fears and terrors he does not talk about, with anyone. And that these thoughts are hunting him, in a way that we can't understand, because we didn't endured what he did. What for us is merely a bother, for him it might mean much more."

Loke nodded. "I understand. You are always so perceptive, Lucy. And thoughtful." The lion smiled at his master. "But think it this way: all the love and comprehension he had received in this months, the life he has lived, must have left a trace, a sign in him. He has something to hope for, a place and a family go back to. How many times the thought of going back to Fairy Tail has given you the strength to fight, when you thought you had reach your limit?"

Lucy looked back at the Lion. Her brown eyes were still filled with worried, but Loke saw a glint of hope, making his way through it all. Finally, she smiled. "Every time." she said. "Every single time."


At the same time, in a small hotel in Era...

Gajeel and Lily were lying in their beds. The hotel was small, but they didn't mind. It had a room with twin beds, and that was enough for them.

Gajeel has clenching his stomach. He could feel the world spinning around him, even if they got out of the train two hours ago already. "Why does it take so fucking long to come to this fucking place..." he muttered.

Lily propped himself on his elbow. He eyed the form of the iron dragon slayer and chuckled. "You know, now I understand why you want to leave one day early for jobs..." "Shut up!"

But the sudden burst of life provoked Gajeel another wave of nausea, and he had to cover his mouth with his hands.

Gajeel glared at Lily, but the cat giggled and went back staring at the ceiling. He also was tired. Dealing with Gajeel for the twelve-hours long ride from Magnolia to Era had not been relaxing at all. He even threw up once, and Lily had to deal with a very pissed off, nauseated dragon slayer for half of the trip.

Lily closed his eyes, and let his mind wander. He remembered once more himself why they were there. To keep an eye on Cobra, or better, to keep an eye on the Rune Knights, while they have Cobra into custody. he thought.

He had nothing against the Rune Knights - he found them quite useful and professional, and Gajeel and him had worked with them several times by now. He liked the Council army quite a bit. He would have worked there, if it was not for Fairy Tail. Fairy Tail is better than anything else

The only problem of the Rune Knight was their Captain. Oh well, Lahar was an excellent strategist, and one of the most well-organised and dedicated persons Lily knew, and the cat was ready to grant this to the Captain. But Lahar had such a sick obsession with Fairy Tail, like he was holding some personal grudges against their guild. Lily could not explain himself how a person to devoted to the Council could be so mischievous towards one of the biggest legal guild in Fiore. In fact, we were the ones who defeated Grimoire Heart, and then Natsu defeated the Future Rogue, and the whole Etherion Cannon thing...

Lily could found countless examples, in which Fairy Tail had saved the day. With a good deal of destruction, he chuckled, but we always save the day.

"Oi Lily. What's so funny?"

Lily tuned to look at Gajeel. "Nothing, Gajeel. I was just wondering why Lahar seems to dislike our guild so much. We had always helped the Council, after all."

Gajeel groaned. Ok, now the room wasn't dancing around him anymore. "That's because we saved his ass too, Lily." he said. "Ah, and we proved many times that the Council took the worst possible decision."

"So, you think it is because we are making Lahar feeling like an idiot?"

"Yes." Gajeel grunted. "Because we do the right thing every fucking time, even if the right thing is against 'the law'." Gajeel mimicked the inverted commas in the air with his hands. "Like we did with Mytogan-Jerald at the games, right? Everyone in the guild knew he was Jerald Fernandez, but we knew also that he was possessed by Zeref, or whatever, when he was a Councilman. So, we just gave him a chance."

"And Lahar can't stand this, because for him and for the law, Jerald is still a criminal."

"Yeah. And we fought Grimoire Heart, one of the Balam Alliance, all by ourselves, and destroyed them. Like, we fucking killed Master Hades, survived Acnologia, and everything under his nose!"

"So, do you think this is why he had taken Cobra back to Era?" asked abruptly Lily.

Gajeel stood silent at this. He also had been surprised, and angry, when Master told them about Lahar letter a couple of days ago. Lily and the iron dragon slayer had discussed a lot about that, but none of them had found any possible justification for Lahar to retrieve Cobra. "I do not think this is legal, Lily. If Cobra is on parole, either Lahar proves he had been into criminal activities, and therefore revokes his parole, either Lahar has to leave him out of prison. There is no in between."

"But why would Lahar risk to do something illegal? It makes no sense!" protested Lily.

"It makes sense if ya see it as a way to piss off Fairy Tail, and Cobra in particular."

"Then, why simply not stating that Cobra is back to crime?"

"I guess because otherwise there would be serious investigations - and Fairy Tail would have a great weight as a witness. So, Lahar would have his hands tied up, and will be forced to admit that he was wrong, and you know how much the Captain hates when he is wrong." Gajeel closed his eyes. "For how I see it," he continued "by stating that Cobra has committed a crime that justifies the revoke of his parole, Lahar would be proved wrong. But, if he retrieves him back for no specified reason other than routine control, no one is going to tell him anything."

"They could, if it is forbidden by law."

"Maybe it is, but no one is going to waste his time addressing the Captain. Probably he would be even justified, since Cobra is considered a dangerous criminal. After all, for them 'routine control' might be not a great deal."

Lily huffed. "It makes no sense to me, Gajeel."

"There is also the chance that no one knows. Or at least, no one of the people who could help Cobra in the Council." Gajeel opened his eyes, studying the ceiling. He had an idea of who could have vouched Cobra's parole, but he was not sure. If I am right, we should pay a visit to the old hag...

They stood in silence a few more minutes. Lily felt his eyes slowly closing. "Gajeel, I think I will fall asleep soon."

"Me too." the iron dragon slayer had closed his eyes once more. "Have ya sent a message to the Master?"

"Yes, I did right when we arrived at the hotel. I told him we will call him tomorrow, after we have gone to see Cobra."

"Good", mumbled Gajeel. I hope we will be able to actually see him. The iron dragon slayer had a bad feeling about that. His guts were telling him that it was not going to be easy to get Cobra out of Lahar claws.

But before falling asleep, Gajeel remembered that Mirajane was on the line, ready to jump on a train to Era, must Lily and him fail their mission.

Well Captain, he chuckled to himself, ya will have a good load of shit to deal with, that's for sure.