Hi! Can't wait for next week's chapter where they go on their first mission :) Hope you're as excited as I am! This episode mainly focuses on Nakina and Erza's relationship. Enjoy!

Chapter Seven : Jump

Erza's P.O.V -

The cold wind brushed against my cheek, making them a light shade of pink. My messy hair moved around in the wind, covering my face.

Jump. Jump. Jump. Jump. Jump.

I've heard enough of you.

You know once your dead, you won't have to listen to me anymore.

Is that so?

Jump.

My heart rate began to increase, the thumping noise filling the air.

Jump titania, I want to see you fall.

I sat there for a few moments, staring. Was this really the right thing to do? Is this how I atone for everything? Is this the only way to get that stupid voice leave my head?

Coward.

Maybe.

Suddenly, there was frantic pounding at my door. I slowly got off the ledge and opened the door. Nakina stood there, staring at me.

"Erza-san," she walked into my house without invitation. "Pardon the intrusion but I really must stop you."

"Stop me from what?" I asked.

"I'm not quite sure. Sorry, but when we were looking at Levy's memories earlier I accidentally got a peek at yours. There was something dark glooming over everything. It was something that I recognized," she sighed.

"I don't follow," I lied.

She smiled sadly at me, "I know you do."

We stood there in silence, just looking at one another.

"You know," she began. "Sometimes it's easier to talk to someone who doesn't know you that well. Or someone other than the people in your dreams."

"How do you…" I remembered she could look into my mind. "Oh."

I thought about it and agreed with what she said. It would be easier to talk to someone who doesn't know me well.

"I…" I sat down next to her. "Umm…"

She looked at me and the world around us faded away. We were in the middle of a small cottage, the fireplace running. The sky was lit with millions of beautiful stars of all different colors.

"Where are we?"

"Welcome to my little home," she laughed. "This is where I spend most of my time when I'm thinking."

"It's lovely," I looked around. There was a pot of tea cooking and a small desk full of papers in the corner. Out in the backyard was an amazing garden full of wild plants.

"Thank you," she poured me a glass. "Do you want anything?"

"What do you have?" I asked.

She chuckled, "Literally anything you want."

"Could I have a strawberry cake?" I sheepishly said. "If it's not too much-"

A big cake appeared before me. She smiled and continued to order the plates and cups in her cabinets.

"Do you remember what I told you? This is my mind, I can make anything happen as long as I can picture it," she finally settled next to me.

"So if I eat this…"

"It'll taste like you ate it, but when we go back you won't feel full because you didn't really eat anything," she said.

"Great!" I ate without hesitation. "Man if I could come here and relax I don't know if I'd ever want to leave!"

"Well you're welcome to come anytime," she invited. "After all, it's not like time passes."

"What?"

"Yeah, a year here could be like a few minutes there. It depends on what I want,"

"Amazing…"

"Back to you though," she said. "I normally don't bother people about things like this but…." She stopped talking.

"But what?" I asked.

"Well I don't know. I just…" her face turned a little pink. "I want to be friends with you…"

I smiled and began to laugh. I've never been one for making kind first impressions, but it was nice. She wanted to be friends… with me

No she doesn't.

Then why would she ask?

Because she wants to corrupt your mind. Think Titania, at any moment she could trap you here, torcher you. No time will pass. You'll be here forever.

"I'm glad to hear that," I stopped laughing as I listened to the voices in my head. "Well no magic is perfect. There must be a way to break out of this."

She froze, "Well...yes."

"How?"

Nakina went back to sipping her tea before responding, "Umm…"

"If you want me to trust you, mustn't you trust me as well?" I said.

"Yes," she nodded. "It's quite simple, just like a dream, the moment you are able to recognize you aren't awake, you gain the ability to leave at any given moment you wish."

"So the person just needs to recognize that it isn't real," I noted that in my head. "I see."

"Though by the time most are even able to consider such a thing, I will have already killed them,"

I looked up at her, "Kill? You've gone on missions before?"

She quickly shut her mouth as if she let out a secret, "No, forget what I just said."

"And to let you know, killing is not an option here at Fairy Tail," I told her sternly. "I don't care what you've done before, but as of now you are not allowed to take the life of anyone!"

Just then, there was a bang at the door.

"Just ignore that," she brushed it off as it was nothing.

It continued to pound at the door, making me wonder if it was going to knock it down.

"What is that?" I asked.

"Let's just call them unwanted thoughts," she chuckled sadly. "Just like yours."

"How do you block them out?"

"Mmm, that's a difficult question to answer. First, I would suggest you stop speaking to it. If it doesn't stop, then that's when I would try the last resort."

"And what's that?"

"One thing at a time Erza-san,"

She returned us to the room. It was day, the sunlight dripping into the room and onto the dining room table.

"Day already?"

"Well I figured you wouldn't be sleeping so mind as well get the night over with," she laughed.

We went to the guild together that morning. They were officially becoming Fairy Tail members today. They had served their time and were ready to join our family.

Miss me? I ignored the voice.

Oh the cold shoulder? Do you think that'll work on me Erza? Please. In the end you'll get tired of this and end up back on the balcony ledge. And I will be the only voice you can hear. Well, the only voice that'll even want to speak with you Titania.

Master came down and celebrated with us as Mira marked them. Each got a matching tattoo on their right forearm. They wanted a black base with white wings.

"WELCOME!" Natsu roared.

"WOOHOO!" Gray joined in.

They clapped with us, thanking everyone.

Tanoshi shook hands with Master, "I'm glad our journey led us here."

"As am I," Master handed them glasses of champagne.

"Hear hear!" Kagayaku laughed. "So when do we get to fight some people!"

"I assume all five of you want to be in a group?" Master asked.

"Yes," Tanoshi responded for everyone, but they nodded in confirmation.

Master smiled, "Well then you can start tomorrow. Erza, may I speak with you in the back for a moment?"

"Yes, Master," I walked with him without question.

He turned to me after leaving the hearing range of everyone, "Since they're new, I was wondering if you would like to act as their leader for a little while."

"I don't follow," I thought about it for a moment. "Do you mean...leave Lucy and everyone?"

"Well I mean you, Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Juvia, Wendy, Happy, and Carla are all together and since you all've become s-class mages, I thought it wouldn't hurt for you to help them for a bit," he scratched his head. "But now that I think of it, it is a bit troublesome. Perhaps Mira wouldn't mind joining them on their first mission."

"Umm…" I looked over at all of them laughing together and felt a little emptiness inside of me.

No one wants you. Even Makarov knows you don't belong anywhere.

"I guess a few missions wouldn't hurt," I responded. "After all, someone has to see where they are power wise."

"I just had a wonderful idea!" he jumped up, scaring me. "How about all of you take an s-class mission together? Then you can evaluate them. If something goes wrong, all of you will be there to fight. Take Mira, Gajeel, and Levy with you though. Five…ten…fourteen mages not including Happy, Carla, and Panther Lily.'

"That's a very big group, Master," I chuckled. "I'm not sure even I could tame them. But what about Mave?"

"Yes yes," he pondered. "I can take care of Mave. I want them to get back out into the field though. Blow some steam haha. But that's ultimately up to them."

"What mission would we take?" I asked. "I'm not sure any mission will be very challenging with such a big group."

"I have one in mind," he pulled out a paper and showed me.

"All across Fiore…small town…overtaken by a large group of lunatics…have no logic and attack randomly…killed hundreds," I skimmed through the general idea of the mission. "Known for torture, killing, and messing with people's minds. Sounds delightful."

"Mhm," Master looked at the paper. "I think it says on there that they use a drug to slowly make you go insane."

"I don't think Levy or Gajeel should participate in this mission, Master," I frowned. "They have a young child."

He nodded, "Yes, I suppose."

"No way," Gajeel walked towards us. "No way am I missing out on that!"

"Well Erza makes a good point," Master shrugged. "You have Mavis."

"With all due respect, Master, I think that we should go on this mission," Levy joined in. "Pushing ourselves to work in the guild shouldn't stop when we have a kid."

"But Mave isn't even one!" I laughed. "Perhaps when she's older but not now when she needs her mother."

"How long will this mission take?" Gajeel asked.

Master calculated in his mind, "With such a lively group maybe a week? One day travel there, five day mission, and one day travel back."

"It's okay Gajeel, you can go and I'll stay with Mavis then," Levy smiled.

"No!" he shook his head. "Baby we can trust them. Plus I think this'll be good for us."

"Alright!" Levy grinned. "Let's do this!"

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yes," Gajeel nodded furiously. "One-hundred percent."

"Very well," I said. "Just make sure to listen to me or else I'll send you guys right back."

They agreed to my terms. Everyone who was invited were ecstatic, ready to go off on an s-class mission together. This is where the fun really began. But I also didn't know how much we would lose.