The slash of steel in flesh and the crack of a whip fill my body with pain. Fire burns in my eyes and singes my legs. Ropes bind my body rendering me unable to move while maniacal laughter fills my ears.

I open my eyes to find myself in my room, the mint colored walls filling me with calm as light filters through the blinds. Az is snoring on the bed and I smile at the sound. I run my hands through my loose hair to try to and calm myself down. My breathing still heavy from the nightmares that plagued me throughout the night. I unwrap myself from the white sheets I had tangles myself in and walk towards the bathroom. I stare at my bright blue eyes in the mirror, my frame small and athletic, with some semblance of curves. I strip off my clothes from yesterday, my eyes grazing over the ugly scars on my stomach and legs. I turn my body and undo the enchantment on my Father's guild mark that sits, shakily drawn, on my right shoulder. The scars around it and through it just as ugly as the rest. I let out a sigh as I toss my hair over my shoulder to cover it all up. I brush all the knots out of my hair and marvel at the length it has reached after growing it out for two years. I step into the shower hoping that the warmth will get rid of the previous night's feelings.

'Natsu ditched me' I think bitterly as I begin washing my hair. 'So much for a good eighteenth birthday.' A few tears roll down my face, 'maybe if I wasn't so me he wouldn't have left me. Maybe Father was right, maybe I will never be able to be happy.' I look at my shaking hands and shake my head to clear it. 'No, I'm better than this' I ball my magic into my hand and create birds of light that fly through the bathroom. I feel a smile tugging at my lips while I watch the birds flutter throughout, free and happy until a cage of darkness captures them.

I quickly turn around and hold back my rage as I see Rosalina standing in the doorway. Her red eyes burn with hatred for me. I notice that her raven black hair has been cut to just below her ears and is spiked out. Her lithe cat-like body clothed in red and black leather, her posture is almost bored in its impatience. Ro's long knife-like nails drum against her hips as she purrs, "Father wants you to return home now sister."

I wince at the sinister grin that spreads across her face, "I'm not going back Ro and none of you can make me."

"Oh, dear sweet sister, we have our ways of getting you back," her voice drips with poison at the nickname, while she wraps herself in her shadows and vanishes.

A chill runs down my spine, 'I shouldn't have come back. I don't know if I can tell them everything. What if they chase me out?'

'Lilli stop. They will do everything they can to protect you just as you have for them,' Az says calmly as he pads into the bathroom.

I stare into his calm purple eyes as though he is my only lifeline. Az comes up to me and rubs his soft fur against the bare skin of my leg. I stoop down and hug him close while I sob into his side, hoping to release some of the pain welling up in my chest. After a few moments pass, I stand and rinse the shampoo out of my hair and finish my shower while Az plays guard dog right outside the bathroom. I wrap myself in a warm towel and conceal the mark on my shoulder. While walking to the bedroom to get dressed I think about all the ways I can confront Natsu.

'Maybe I can challenge him in a fight. Though he may have gotten stronger too. Oh, I could tell Mira! She'll beat him up…or maybe not she doesn't have her magic. Erza is gone. Maybe I can just tell Gray! No, I don't want to bother him.

I slip on a gray t-shirt and a pair of light blue jeans. I put on my heeled boots, then pull my hair into a high ponytail. Az and I do a quick security sweep of the house and place a few runes around just to be safe. I grab my cape from the back of the couch as we head out to the guild.

The town is lively with people out enjoying the sunshine and what the shops have to offer. I stride past, waving and nodding in acknowledgment to the regulars and my favorite shopkeepers. Az and I expertly weave through the crowded streets. I wrap my cloak tighter around me just as I feel Az push closer to me. I clutch the necklace from Natsu tight as the guild comes into view.

I push open the doors and head straight to the bar, ignoring everything going on around me. I sit on the far end of the bar close to the stairs and Az curls up facing the rest of the guild to watch the environment. Mira smiles at me and hands me a peach iced tea before heading to drop some beer off to someone else. I sip on the tea while I wait for her to return and play with the ice cubes in the cup absentmindedly. Mira returns and stands in front of me, worry in her voice, "What's wrong Lilli?"

"Has Natsu returned yet?" I ask, ignoring her question.

Mira places a delicate finger on her face while she thinks, No, not that I know of. Wait!" she exclaims, "He didn't come back with you?!" I shake my head, and Mira presses, "What happened?"

"Long story short, I was in a bookstore while Happy and Natsu searched for 'Salamander' Bookshop closed and I came home by myself," I say while lying my head on the bar top. My voice is shaky from unshed tears.

"Oh, Lilli I'm sor-" Mira begins before being interrupted by the guild doors slamming open and Natsu yelling, "I'm back."

I lift my head and turn to look at him, ready to give him a piece of my mind, but he begins beating Krov over false information, which causes the guild to break out into a brawl. I sigh, upset that my chance to yell at him has been overtaken. I hear Az growl and I turn my attention to the guild entrance to see a terrified-looking blonde. She is about two inches taller than me, wearing a short deep blue skirt and white tank top embellished with a blue cross design. Her shoulder length blonde hair has a blue ribbon in it holding a portion of it in a side ponytail. On her feet are knee-high brown boots and at her hip is a set of Gate keys and a whip. Her chocolate brown eyes are frightened at the fight that broke out in front of her. I turn around when I see Mira heading towards the girl.

I drink my tea and dodge as tables and chairs fly past my head. Once I finish my tea, I walk out the door, right past the frightened girl, for some much-needed fresh air. Az stays inside to survey the environment. I sit on the steps letting the sun hit my pale skin. I hold out my left arm and trace my finger over the purple guild mark there, a smile on my lips. I hear a shriek of surprise, most likely from the blonde, followed by Gramps' booming voice. I slide back in as he shrinks in front of the new girl and she nearly has a heart attack at the sight. Gramps jumps onto the railing of the second floor and begins talking about following our hearts and don't care about what the Magic Council thinks. Az sits down at my side just as Gramps throws a pile of burning formal complaints for Natsu to eat into the air. Everyone yells in agreement and throws their pointer finger and thumb into the air. A way home.

The guild goes back to what they were doing before Natsu started the fight and the blonde gains her guild mark from Mira. I head to the job request board with Az to grab something so that we can pick up groceries and start our savings again. We spent all of it when we were traveling. Az spies a job for 80,000 Jewels on the bottom for taking care of some pests in a garden for an old witch. I snag the flyer and go to the bar to get approved.

"Be careful Lilli," Mira says as she approves my choice.

I give her a smile, "Don't worry. I'll be back in three days tops."

"Okay, we'll be waiting."

I wave in acknowledgment and Az gives her a nod before turning to follow me. I pull the hood of my cloak tighter around my face as I head towards the doors, walking quickly past Natsu, Happy, and the blonde. I feel the girl's eyes staring into my back, but I shake it off as I step into the sunlight. Once my foot hits the bottom stair, Az and I take off at a run towards the outskirts of town to travel along the forest routes.

The job is in a small village just outside Magnolia, so Az and I saw no need to take the train for half a day walk. The trees provide welcome coverage from the beating summer sun. Az is running ahead to check the area every so often to see if my twin is still in the area. The walk is calm, and we reach the village quickly and without incident. Az and I head to the witch's garden to check-in for the job.

I knock on the door and a small elderly woman opens the door. Her gray hair is piled into a bun on her head and her green eyes spark with mischief. I give her a smile and say, "Hello, my name is Lilli and I'm from the Fairy Tail guild. I came to help you with your pest problem in your garden."

"Oh good." The old woman says, "They have been such a thorn in my side. Come in dear."

"Thank you,"

"Would you like a cup of tea?" the woman asks as she closes the door behind Az and me.

"No thank you. I would like to get the job done so that you may get back to your gardening." I say politely.

"Of course dear, but you must be tired from your travels."

"No not really ma'am, but could you tell us about these pests so that I know what it is I am dealing with."

The old woman sits with a sigh and gestures for me to do the same. I sit on the indicated floral sofa and glance around the home. The walls are covered in a cream-colored wallpaper with pink roses. There are shelves of spell books on every wall and jars of ingredients, mainly herbs, and flowers. In the back is a small kitchen and dining set. Everything in the house is covered in dust, including the furniture. Az sneezes from the disturbance of dust as I sit.

The old woman takes a deep breath and begins speaking, "The pests look like rabbits, but they have teeth like sharks. Their skin is gray and rubbery. Wherever they stomp causes my garden to wither and die. No manner of magic has been able to revive my garden or get rid of them."

"Okay. Az and I will take care of it for you." I say standing up, "Will you take us to your garden please?"

The old woman nods and walks to the back, Az and I follow, careful not to knock into any of the furniture. Off in the corner is a door that leads outside. The old woman carefully unlocks it and steps outside. I follow with Az behind me. The garden is huge and goes out farther than my eyes can see. I let out a low whistle at the sight and turn to the old woman, "No wonder you needed help. This is an impressive garden."

The woman beams, "Thank you. It has taken me most of my youth to get it this way and I'm devastated that it has come to this."

"We'll take care of it for you." I step forward and see the little pest the woman had described. Indeed, it does look like a rabbit, but not quite. The gray skin hangs oddly off the bones of the creature. The teeth are sharp and stick out of the mouth. The feet are large and have spikes on the bottom of them. I turn and gently push the old woman inside, afraid of Az scaring her. Az transforms and begins going after the creatures. I follow casting Protection, a spell that causes a shield to cover where the castor needs it, over the entire garden. The light magic causes the creatures burrowed inside the garden to flee. Az, now having their scent, hunts for all burrows for the creatures and flushes them out. Using my magic, I begin healing the garden and ridding it of the toxin from the creatures' paws. Az spends a few hours going around the entire garden snuffing out the creatures. I fill in the holes from their burrows and give the garden a healthy dose of light to hopefully aid in the growing process. The old woman comes out and casts a water spell over the garden which causes the garden to grow quickly. I smile at her and see that she has tears in her eyes. By the time dawn has risen the following day, the old witch's garden was back to its former glory and no sign of the creatures returning.

Az and I head inside, where the witch is preparing a breakfast tea with fresh herbs from her restored garden. I sit on the couch and notice that all the dust from the house is gone. I raise an eyebrow at the witch whose wrinkles have lessened. She turns and smiles as she sets a teacup with beautiful lilies wrapped around it. She sees my look and says, "My magic works off this garden. I feed off it and it keeps everything orderly. I want for nothing here."

"I see." I take a sip of tea and feel my hunger disappear, "What tea is this?"

The old woman smiles, "A special one. It restores the magic ability of those who drink it and raises any needs. Along with your reward, I would like to give you some."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I would also like to give you some information." She sits back and closes her eyes, "My name is Hydrangea. Your bother came here and asked me to poison you. He said that is I did so he would take the creatures out of my garden."

Az and I both tense inspecting the tea. Hydrangea laughs at our reaction, "That man is the one who placed those creatures there. I didn't believe him for a second. So, instead, I want to warn you. Your brother will most likely be watching your return home. He'll expect you to collapse from the poison and when he finds that I did not do as instructed, he will come for my life."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" I ask quietly.

Hydrangea shakes her head, "No, my garden will protect me. He'll be lucky if he walks away. Here is your reward, Lilli."

She hands me 80,000 Jewel and a large canister full of tea leaves. I bow my head as I accept the items, "Thank you, Hydrangea."

She nods her head and shoos Az and me out of her house. Az transforms and hoists me onto his back as we take off. 'Do you think she'll be okay?'

Az lets out a sigh, 'I think she was saying her final farewell.'

We head through the forest quickly to get home and stay out of my family's clutches for as long as possible.