"Stop it Poppy. Stop hurting yourself with those silly dreams. She's gone. She's never coming back," I thought to myself as I woke up.
"It was only a dream. Stop being a child. You're not a kid anymore. Grow up and face the truth. Stop this," I murmured to myself as I started to open my eyes and look at my surroundings.
"Where am I?" I gasped, not recognizing the sterile, clean room filled with white beds, fear coursing in my veins in case I was caught. I quickly sat up but then winced at the pain.
"You shouldn't move yet. You are in Fairy Tail's Infirmary. You were in pretty bad shaped last night, but I took care of you and healed you."
I turned around to see a blue-haird girl, about my age, smiling at me on the left side of my bed.
"You need some rest but all your injuries have been healed and you should be able to move about later today. I'm Wendy by the way," she said, extending her hand towards me, still smiling.
I stared at her for a moment before shaking her hand, giving a weak smile back. "I'm Poppy. Thank you for healing me, but I should leave soon."
Wendy opened her mouth to reply but a white cat sitting on her lap spoke, "You can't leave yet. You need to rest and besides, we have a couple questions for you."
I looked at her in shock thinking "Cats can talk?" befor looking around uncomfortably. "Um... I appreciate your help and all, I really do, but I should get going," I responded, slowly getting up from the bed, ignoring the dull protests of my body.
At that moment, I heard yelling from behind the larger door behind Wendy that soon opened.
"I need to see her. I need to know who she is," a tall red-head said as she entered the infirmary.
"Am I still asleep? Am I dead?" I asked myself as I stood up and backed to the furthest wall from the door.
"Erza-san! Please calm down! Don't scare her away!" cried Wendy, noticing my frightened appearance.
The red-headed girl, named Erza, turned to me and slowly calmed down. I stared at her eyes, catching glimpses of sorrow, grief, fear, confusion, and hope.
"Does she recognize me? Is it really her?" I thought before shaking my head and speaking, my voice shaky.
"Stop this torture and let me go. I mean no harm but I will fight if I need to. I am a mage after all."
"It's okay. We won't hurt you Poppy."
I looked around and found the source of the voice, a blonde standing next to Erza. Erza looked at her questioningly. "Do you know her Lucy?"
"That voice. It has to be her," I thought, watching Lucy nod in response.
"Poppy once stumbled upon our land when I was young. She was exhausted and passed out when I found her. Specto-San took her inside and we cared for her until she was healthy again. She stayed with us for a week before she left, claiming she was looking for her family," replied Lucy, with tears in her eyes. "I never saw her again until now. You've grown up a bit Poppy."
"Of course! It's been a couple of years since we have seen each other! I'm sorry for not staying in contact," I responded, smiling up to her because I knew I had nothing to fear.
Lucy approached me slowly, watching to see how I would react. Giggling, I closed the space between us with a hug.
After the quick reunion, I turned around to face Erza and Wendy. Lucy kept her hand on my shoulder in an attempt to confort me.
"Poppy, I'm so glad to see you again but how do you know Erza?" Lucy asked.
The room grew tense as both Erza and I stared at each other, not knowing how to respond. At that moment, I heard more yelling and the infirmary door burst open, with people piling on top of each other.
"Get off me flame brain!"
"You're on my Popsticle Stick!
"MAN!"
"Juvia has never been this close to Gray-sama before!"
"Jet, is Levy safe?"
"I don't know Droy."
"Be careful Squirt."
I stood there in silence and confusion at the yells of the pile of people in front of me. It was then I noticed Erza's killer aura and I stook a step back.
"That feeling...that aura..."I thought, recognizing it from old memories.
"ENOUGH!" yelled a small, old man who was standing beside the pile of what I assumed to be the guild members.
Each person stood up and then looked towards me. Their eyes flickered between Erza and I. A pink haired boy grinned and then turned towards Erza.
"It's a mini you! I want one!" he yelled pointing at me, as a shirtless boy smacked him and whispered, "Shut up baka."
The small man turned to face me, smiling as though wanting to reassure me.
"Welcome to Fairy Tail. I am this Guild's Master."
I smiled nervously and waved my hand. "I'm Poppy. Sorry to enter your guild so suddenly. I'll be sure to be on my way shortly." At that, I made a motion to walk out of the guild as soon as I could but Lucy's hand on my shoulder kept me from moving.
Lucy looked at me with confusion while the master turned to Erza questioning before addressing me.
"Well, that's fine Poppy but we do have some questions we would like you to answer."
I gulped and nodded slowly.
"Sure. Ask away. It's the least I can do," I replied quietly, sitting on a nearby bed.
The master sighed. "You came in here, running to Erza, crying and hugging her. May I ask how you two know each other and why you look similar to her?"
I looked towards Erza, tears slowly falling from my eyes.
"She's my older sister," I responded quietly, my voice breaking with emotion.
The Guild stared at us in shock while I kept my eyes on Erza.
She looked back at me, her eyes a mixture of emotions but the most dominant one was hope. "Red is that really you?"
I flashed her a smile as I heard my old nickname. Tears streamed from my eyes. "The one and only."
Her brown eyes swelled with tears as she returned the smile, arms opened for a hug. I ran to her, holding her tight. Finally, feeling safe.
"I found you," was all I could say back.