p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAfter defeating Lullaby, I decide to visit a small town called Lupinus, the main reason is to give Az a break from jobs to recoup his strength. It has been almost a year and a half since the last time he lost control. I don't need him in any stressful situations. Lupinus is where Az really learned to gain control and I know the familiar scents will help to calm him down. Besides there are people that I want to visit there./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI walk through the forest and even though the hot sun is beating on me through the trees, I keep my cape and hood up while Az pads softly next to me, his paws crunching on the underbrush. Natsu begged to come along, probably to protect me, but I somehow convinced him to stay at the guild, though the pink-haired Dragon Slayer is probably pouting about it. The walk is silent between the two of us, Az's tail dragging in the brush. We step out of the forest and into the quiet town./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe town is small, the population only being about a hundred people. The houses made from brick and wood, some have stones collected from the river. The shops cluster in the center of town; Maurice's Bookstore, Handyman's Building Supplies, Ella's café, and the flea market for selling homegrown food. Az and I greet Ella as she steps into her shop. I walk towards the river, following it until we reach the small house in the forest. Az and I spent many days in this small home, recovering from long training sessions, or escaping from the public eye for a little while. The house is small, made up mainly of red brick and gray river stones. In front, under the large window, are roses in a variety of colors; red, orange, pink, yellow, blue, and purple. In the back is where the prized rainbow roses are grown, as well as fruits, vegetables, and herbs. I gently push open the dark wood door, "Mama Lyn! Papa Toshi! We're home!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe door swings open and the scent of blood assaults my nose. Az's fur bristles and he quickly transforms, taking off to do a security sweep. Tears well up in my eyes, but I force my shaking legs to move forward. The carpet is soaked through with blood, the cream and rose colored walls are splattered with the red substance. There is a trail leading through the dining room to the right and to the kitchen in the back of the house. On the couch is a basket of spilled black and red roses. Lyn must have been filling the vases for the week when she was attacked. I stay clear of the pools of blood as I follow the trail into the kitchen. I nearly vomit when I see the kitchen; blood is splattered on every surface, the cabinets have the words, em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"'This is all your fault,'/em written in the red fluid. Lyn is laying in the middle of the floor, her beautiful hazel eyes open wide in terror. Her chest is ripped open, legs swollen and purple with bruises, and one of her prized red roses is stabbed into her heart. Lyn's silver-streaked purple hair is soaked through with her own blood. Tears overflow from my eyes as my legs give out on me, I gently touch Lyn's face, sobs racking my body./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"'Lilli,' /emAz calls urgently, em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"'Toshi is still breathing!'/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI pull myself away from Mama and force my legs to carry me out the door to the garden. I see Az's black fur and sprint to him through the thorny roses and soft dirt. I see Papa and my breath hitches in my throat. He is indeed breathing, but there are scratches all over his face and a gaping hole in his stomach. I kneel next to Toshi, taking my cape off and wrapping it around the gaping hole, "Az, do you think you can make it back it Magnolia?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"'I will sure as hell try,'/em Az says as he lifts Toshi onto his back. I move Toshi's arms onto his chest and gently press a kiss onto his wrinkled hands. Az takes off at a sprint through the forest. I stand watching Az's figure retreat, sending out a soft prayer, em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"'Please be safe.'/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span/emI open my palms towards the sky, emitting a soft golden light, em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;""Light Shield."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span/emThe shield of golden light encapsulates the small home and the surrounding garden. I collapse in the soft dirt, among the rosemary and mint, and allow my tears to fall as memories fill my mind and pain takes over reason./p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAz and I had been wandering for days without food at this point. It had been about two months since we had left Fairy Tail. We wandered into a forest on the outskirts of Lupinus. There we found a small village, most of the townspeople stepping over us and ignoring the half-dead pair. We were exhausted from traveling and trying to lose my siblings that we just wanted a place to stay for the night. My legs ended up giving out on me and I just fell to the ground. An older lady came up to me with her husband. Her hair was a beautiful light purple with many strands of silver throughout it; she wore it up in a bun with a few straggler hairs. Her eyes were a soft brown color and she was holding a woven basket. Her husband had completely gray hair and he was using a cane. His eyes were a dark blue that reminded me of the sea at night. The couple was holding hands as they looked at Az and me. I looked a sorry sight; my white hair was short and covered in dirt. My eyes dull, my clothes covered in blood and dirt, and I looked absolutely exhausted with Az supporting me. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Excuse me sweetie," The woman said in an incredibly soft and warm voice. I looked up at her relief washing over me at someone talking to me in this town./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes?" I answer in a very tired and defeated voice./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Do you perhaps need a place to stay for the night?" Her husband asked. My eyes widen and I nod vigorously. They smiled at each other and Az helped me to my feet. The elderly couple led me to their home, which was on the outskirts of the village closer to the woods. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe house was a small cottage with roses blooming in front and in the back, they had a garden. They lead me inside to find rose colored walls covered with pictures and shelves to hold knickknacks. The woman introduced herself as Lyn and that her husband was named Toshi. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"If you would like a shower there is one in the back of the house through the hall and straight ahead." She says as she unloads the vegetables and meats from the basket. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Thank you so much," I say as I head down the rose colored hallway./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"There will be clean towels in the linen closet on the left." She calls after me/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI grab a towel and take a long shower to get all the dirt and blood off me. I hear the door open and then a voice, "I'm going to wash your clothes. I'm leaving you a set of fresh clothes!"/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThen the door closes before I can say anything. I stand under the water completely in shock. After regaining myself I finish and put on the clothes they provided, a white dress with a floral pattern on the bottom. The dress comes to my knees and fits well. I exit the bathroom and Mama Lyn gushes over how pretty I look in the dress. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAz and I spent the night there and many more until we had regained out strength. Mama Lyn and Papa Toshi always welcomed us with open arms whenever we needed a place to stay. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI pull myself out of the pain and force myself to my feet, heading to the shed where they keep the gardening tools. I grab a shovel and begin digging a grave among the rose bushes Lyn loved so much. Once the hole is big enough and I'm covered in dirt, I go into the kitchen and big up Lyn's cold body. I hold my breath and the tears the threaten to spill over. I gently place her body into the grave and sob seeing her lying in the ground motionless. Through my tears I gently cover her body with dirt, burying my mother for the second time. As I finish I walk inside, grabbing the roses she had been using and place them on top of the mound./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I promise that I will give you a proper burial. I'll bury you in the cemetery in Magnolia so that I can bring you roses every day," I whisper softly to Mama Lyn. I pull myself away from her grave as the sun begins to set. I'm covered in dirt and blood, but I refuse to shower until I have cleaned Mama Lyn and Papa Toshi's home. I begin in the kitchen, scrubbing the words off the white cabinets, and the blood off the white and rose tiled floor./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"After many hours of cleaning, I finish with a warm shower and crawl into the guest bedroom the Lyn and Toshi gave me. Even though my body is exhausted I can't sleep. My eyes leak tears as I lay there alone in the darkness, wishing for someone to be here. I wish I had let Natsu come with, instead of making him stay home; the pain is too much to bear alone. My pain consumes me and sends me into a dark, lonely sleep./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanspan style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI awake with light filtering through the blinds and into my eyes. I walk into the couple's room and quickly pack up a bag for Toshi. Pain races through my chest as I walk into the living room, brown leather bag in hand. I set the bag down by the door and walk into the kitchen. The light is gently filling the room with a warm golden light. I bask in the warmth as it chases away the cold from last night. I go into the garden, the sound of birds singing in the morning and the bees buzzing around hard at work calms my nerves. I pick a few of the white, orange, and pink roses, being gentle with them and wrapping them in floral paper the Mama uses all the time when transporting flowers. I place the bundle on the counter and go to the rainbow roses where I buried Mama. I speak softly so that only she can hear me, "I will see you later, okay? I'll make sure Toshi is taken good care of so that you don't have to worry about him."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI stand and enter the house, grabbing my bundle off the counter and heading towards the front of the door. I grab Toshi's bag and head out the door, sealing to door with a few quick, but efficient runes. I head towards the train station, my eye is caught by a shadow of a man watching people entering and exiting the station. I catch a glimpse of his face and shift my appearance; my white hair turning into purple and my bright blue eyes shifting into deep blue eyes. I start stepping ono the train when someone grabs my arm. I meet the cold, black eyes of my brother. I steel myself against the fear the grips my heart./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"May I help you sir?" My voice is neutral with surprise, masking my fear./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Oh, uh, sorry," his gruff voice says, "I thought you were my sister."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI arch my eyebrow questionably at him, "Oh, well I am not her."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I see that," he snaps./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It's not my fault you lost her so don't yell at me," I reply with the same amount of bark to my voice. If I was not hiding, I would not be able to actually say this to him./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe lets me go and storms out of the station. I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding. Thankfully, the train was there a few minutes later. I hopped on and stared out the window for the train ride losing myself in my thoughts and memories./p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Big brother!" my five-year-old self called running up to eight-year-old Alex. His black hair hung long and, in his face, covering his coal black eyes. Many people described them as cold, but I never saw them that way./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hey Lilli!" he replied with a warm smile. Just as I was about to reach him Rosaline pushed me onto the gravel path causing a gash to open on my arm. I started crying at the sight of the blood and Rose just laughed at me./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Rosaline," my older brother said in a very strict voice, even though Father was corrupting him Alex was still a big brother first, "You need to apologize to Lilli."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRose huffed and started to walk off. Alex grabbed her arm and dragged her back, "Now."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Sorry crybaby," Rose mumbles./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAlex sighs and let her go. He then grabbed my arm gently and pulled a handkerchief out to put pressure on the gash. It wasn't deep, but it stung. I sniffled loudly, but I had stopped crying./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You'll be okay little sister," Alex said in a warm voice, "Let's get you to the nurse for a band aid."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI nod and he helped me to my feet. Alex held the handkerchief to the wound until we reached the nurse, then he put the bandage on my arm. Afterwards we went to the library where he read me stories until Father wanted me./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI get off at Magnolia station and undo my transformation, happy to have my long hair back. I head to my home to drop of Toshi's bag and place the flowers in some water before heading to the guild. As I'm heading to the guild, I hear whispers:/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Oh no, she doesn't know"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Poor thing"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Does this mean war?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI walk ignoring them, but my pace kicks up to a run. As I stand at the bottom of the hill and Fairy Tail comes into view, the guild hall is demolished, metal poles stick out from every angle. My knees begin shaking and my vision blurs./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI walk through the forest and even though the hot sun is beating on me through the trees, I keep my cape and hood up while Az pads softly next to me, his paws crunching on the underbrush. Natsu begged to come along, probably to protect me, but I somehow convinced him to stay at the guild, though the pink-haired Dragon Slayer is probably pouting about it. The walk is silent between the two of us, Az's tail dragging in the brush. We step out of the forest and into the quiet town./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe town is small, the population only being about a hundred people. The houses made from brick and wood, some have stones collected from the river. The shops cluster in the center of town; Maurice's Bookstore, Handyman's Building Supplies, Ella's café, and the flea market for selling homegrown food. Az and I greet Ella as she steps into her shop. I walk towards the river, following it until we reach the small house in the forest. Az and I spent many days in this small home, recovering from long training sessions, or escaping from the public eye for a little while. The house is small, made up mainly of red brick and gray river stones. In front, under the large window, are roses in a variety of colors; red, orange, pink, yellow, blue, and purple. In the back is where the prized rainbow roses are grown, as well as fruits, vegetables, and herbs. I gently push open the dark wood door, "Mama Lyn! Papa Toshi! We're home!"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe door swings open and the scent of blood assaults my nose. Az's fur bristles and he quickly transforms, taking off to do a security sweep. Tears well up in my eyes, but I force my shaking legs to move forward. The carpet is soaked through with blood, the cream and rose colored walls are splattered with the red substance. There is a trail leading through the dining room to the right and to the kitchen in the back of the house. On the couch is a basket of spilled black and red roses. Lyn must have been filling the vases for the week when she was attacked. I stay clear of the pools of blood as I follow the trail into the kitchen. I nearly vomit when I see the kitchen; blood is splattered on every surface, the cabinets have the words, em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"'This is all your fault,'/em written in the red fluid. Lyn is laying in the middle of the floor, her beautiful hazel eyes open wide in terror. Her chest is ripped open, legs swollen and purple with bruises, and one of her prized red roses is stabbed into her heart. Lyn's silver-streaked purple hair is soaked through with her own blood. Tears overflow from my eyes as my legs give out on me, I gently touch Lyn's face, sobs racking my body./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"'Lilli,' /emAz calls urgently, em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"'Toshi is still breathing!'/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI pull myself away from Mama and force my legs to carry me out the door to the garden. I see Az's black fur and sprint to him through the thorny roses and soft dirt. I see Papa and my breath hitches in my throat. He is indeed breathing, but there are scratches all over his face and a gaping hole in his stomach. I kneel next to Toshi, taking my cape off and wrapping it around the gaping hole, "Az, do you think you can make it back it Magnolia?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"'I will sure as hell try,'/em Az says as he lifts Toshi onto his back. I move Toshi's arms onto his chest and gently press a kiss onto his wrinkled hands. Az takes off at a sprint through the forest. I stand watching Az's figure retreat, sending out a soft prayer, em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"'Please be safe.'/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span/emI open my palms towards the sky, emitting a soft golden light, em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;""Light Shield."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span/emThe shield of golden light encapsulates the small home and the surrounding garden. I collapse in the soft dirt, among the rosemary and mint, and allow my tears to fall as memories fill my mind and pain takes over reason./p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAz and I had been wandering for days without food at this point. It had been about two months since we had left Fairy Tail. We wandered into a forest on the outskirts of Lupinus. There we found a small village, most of the townspeople stepping over us and ignoring the half-dead pair. We were exhausted from traveling and trying to lose my siblings that we just wanted a place to stay for the night. My legs ended up giving out on me and I just fell to the ground. An older lady came up to me with her husband. Her hair was a beautiful light purple with many strands of silver throughout it; she wore it up in a bun with a few straggler hairs. Her eyes were a soft brown color and she was holding a woven basket. Her husband had completely gray hair and he was using a cane. His eyes were a dark blue that reminded me of the sea at night. The couple was holding hands as they looked at Az and me. I looked a sorry sight; my white hair was short and covered in dirt. My eyes dull, my clothes covered in blood and dirt, and I looked absolutely exhausted with Az supporting me. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Excuse me sweetie," The woman said in an incredibly soft and warm voice. I looked up at her relief washing over me at someone talking to me in this town./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes?" I answer in a very tired and defeated voice./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Do you perhaps need a place to stay for the night?" Her husband asked. My eyes widen and I nod vigorously. They smiled at each other and Az helped me to my feet. The elderly couple led me to their home, which was on the outskirts of the village closer to the woods. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe house was a small cottage with roses blooming in front and in the back, they had a garden. They lead me inside to find rose colored walls covered with pictures and shelves to hold knickknacks. The woman introduced herself as Lyn and that her husband was named Toshi. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"If you would like a shower there is one in the back of the house through the hall and straight ahead." She says as she unloads the vegetables and meats from the basket. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Thank you so much," I say as I head down the rose colored hallway./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"There will be clean towels in the linen closet on the left." She calls after me/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI grab a towel and take a long shower to get all the dirt and blood off me. I hear the door open and then a voice, "I'm going to wash your clothes. I'm leaving you a set of fresh clothes!"/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThen the door closes before I can say anything. I stand under the water completely in shock. After regaining myself I finish and put on the clothes they provided, a white dress with a floral pattern on the bottom. The dress comes to my knees and fits well. I exit the bathroom and Mama Lyn gushes over how pretty I look in the dress. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAz and I spent the night there and many more until we had regained out strength. Mama Lyn and Papa Toshi always welcomed us with open arms whenever we needed a place to stay. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI pull myself out of the pain and force myself to my feet, heading to the shed where they keep the gardening tools. I grab a shovel and begin digging a grave among the rose bushes Lyn loved so much. Once the hole is big enough and I'm covered in dirt, I go into the kitchen and big up Lyn's cold body. I hold my breath and the tears the threaten to spill over. I gently place her body into the grave and sob seeing her lying in the ground motionless. Through my tears I gently cover her body with dirt, burying my mother for the second time. As I finish I walk inside, grabbing the roses she had been using and place them on top of the mound./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I promise that I will give you a proper burial. I'll bury you in the cemetery in Magnolia so that I can bring you roses every day," I whisper softly to Mama Lyn. I pull myself away from her grave as the sun begins to set. I'm covered in dirt and blood, but I refuse to shower until I have cleaned Mama Lyn and Papa Toshi's home. I begin in the kitchen, scrubbing the words off the white cabinets, and the blood off the white and rose tiled floor./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"After many hours of cleaning, I finish with a warm shower and crawl into the guest bedroom the Lyn and Toshi gave me. Even though my body is exhausted I can't sleep. My eyes leak tears as I lay there alone in the darkness, wishing for someone to be here. I wish I had let Natsu come with, instead of making him stay home; the pain is too much to bear alone. My pain consumes me and sends me into a dark, lonely sleep./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanspan style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI awake with light filtering through the blinds and into my eyes. I walk into the couple's room and quickly pack up a bag for Toshi. Pain races through my chest as I walk into the living room, brown leather bag in hand. I set the bag down by the door and walk into the kitchen. The light is gently filling the room with a warm golden light. I bask in the warmth as it chases away the cold from last night. I go into the garden, the sound of birds singing in the morning and the bees buzzing around hard at work calms my nerves. I pick a few of the white, orange, and pink roses, being gentle with them and wrapping them in floral paper the Mama uses all the time when transporting flowers. I place the bundle on the counter and go to the rainbow roses where I buried Mama. I speak softly so that only she can hear me, "I will see you later, okay? I'll make sure Toshi is taken good care of so that you don't have to worry about him."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI stand and enter the house, grabbing my bundle off the counter and heading towards the front of the door. I grab Toshi's bag and head out the door, sealing to door with a few quick, but efficient runes. I head towards the train station, my eye is caught by a shadow of a man watching people entering and exiting the station. I catch a glimpse of his face and shift my appearance; my white hair turning into purple and my bright blue eyes shifting into deep blue eyes. I start stepping ono the train when someone grabs my arm. I meet the cold, black eyes of my brother. I steel myself against the fear the grips my heart./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"May I help you sir?" My voice is neutral with surprise, masking my fear./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Oh, uh, sorry," his gruff voice says, "I thought you were my sister."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI arch my eyebrow questionably at him, "Oh, well I am not her."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I see that," he snaps./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It's not my fault you lost her so don't yell at me," I reply with the same amount of bark to my voice. If I was not hiding, I would not be able to actually say this to him./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe lets me go and storms out of the station. I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding. Thankfully, the train was there a few minutes later. I hopped on and stared out the window for the train ride losing myself in my thoughts and memories./p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Big brother!" my five-year-old self called running up to eight-year-old Alex. His black hair hung long and, in his face, covering his coal black eyes. Many people described them as cold, but I never saw them that way./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Hey Lilli!" he replied with a warm smile. Just as I was about to reach him Rosaline pushed me onto the gravel path causing a gash to open on my arm. I started crying at the sight of the blood and Rose just laughed at me./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Rosaline," my older brother said in a very strict voice, even though Father was corrupting him Alex was still a big brother first, "You need to apologize to Lilli."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRose huffed and started to walk off. Alex grabbed her arm and dragged her back, "Now."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Sorry crybaby," Rose mumbles./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAlex sighs and let her go. He then grabbed my arm gently and pulled a handkerchief out to put pressure on the gash. It wasn't deep, but it stung. I sniffled loudly, but I had stopped crying./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You'll be okay little sister," Alex said in a warm voice, "Let's get you to the nurse for a band aid."/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI nod and he helped me to my feet. Alex held the handkerchief to the wound until we reached the nurse, then he put the bandage on my arm. Afterwards we went to the library where he read me stories until Father wanted me./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI get off at Magnolia station and undo my transformation, happy to have my long hair back. I head to my home to drop of Toshi's bag and place the flowers in some water before heading to the guild. As I'm heading to the guild, I hear whispers:/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Oh no, she doesn't know"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Poor thing"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Does this mean war?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI walk ignoring them, but my pace kicks up to a run. As I stand at the bottom of the hill and Fairy Tail comes into view, the guild hall is demolished, metal poles stick out from every angle. My knees begin shaking and my vision blurs./p