Here's the next chapter! Please Review and let me know what you think and I'll be sure to post a new chapter soon (after finals)

"Poppy! Wake up!"

I sat up straight and opened my eyes. "What's going on?"

Erza stood over me. "You were beginning to moan and whimper in your sleep. I told the others to leave and get ready for the mission in case you were having another nightmare."

I blinked, confused. "I...I don't remember... but my heart is beating pretty fast right now."

Erza looked at me. "Well, you should get up and get ready for the mission...just let me know if you are okay."

I nodded. "Yup! Gimmie a minute!"

Soon, we both walked out of the hut and to the back of the village to find the others.

"Took you long enough!" shouted Natsu as we approached them.

They were sitting on some rocks next to a forest. Erza stood next to Gray who was looking at a map while I sat next to Lucy on the ground.

"In order to cover more ground, we will split up. Natsu and Happy will take the left trail, Gray will take the right, Lucy will follow the center trail and I will take the furthest trail with Poppy. We are to meet back here in one hour. If you find the mages, try to lead them towards the border so that they cannot run and hide within the forest. If you need assistance at any point, try to release some magic and let others know. This guys may be dangerous so don't take it too lightly. Is everyone ready?" asked Erza, looking at all of us.

"Erza? Shouldn't someone guard the border if they happen to try and run away? We have enough people," said Gray, looking around at us.

"Mini Erza can stay here!" exclaimed Natsu, looking at me.

Lucy smacked him, "Baka! First off, she has a name and her name is Poppy! Second, don't you think it would be safer for her to stay with Erza in case she runs into trouble?"

"But she can use magic! She'll be fine," said Natsu.

"Baka," mumbled Gray, "She doesn't use it remember?"

Natsu looked at Gray confused, "But she smells of magic!"

Lucy smacked Natsu again, "Honestly! Do you ever learn?! Besides, Erza's thought this though and..."

"I can stay here," I said, hoping to end the bickering.

They turned to look at me. Erza looked worried and about to say no but I interjected.

"I'll be fine here. I can just stay and watch. If they come, I can hide behind some rocks and watch where they go. Then, when you guys come back, I can tell you where they went and we can follow their trail."

Gray looked at Erza, "It seems like a good idea..."

Erza kept her eyes at me, contemplating, before she took a deep breath. "Fine, Poppy will stay here and guard the border. The rest of us, let's get going. The sooner we can catch these guys, the better."

"I'm all fired up!" shouted Natsu, running into the forest towards the trail while Happy followed behind.

"I'm not letting Flame Brain find these guys before I do!" cried Gray as he departed.

Lucy sighed walking to her trail, "Those idiots."

Erza looked at me closely as I stood up from the ground. "Will you be okay Poppy? I can stay here if you want..."

I shook my head. "No it's okay, I'll be fine. You go catch those bad guys Erza-nee! I got it from here!"

She continued to look at me before nodding. "If anything happens Poppy, run. Run and hide. Shout for me and I'll come find you."

I smiled. "No worries Nee-san! I got this covered."

She smiled back, "Alright. See you in an hour."

"Good-luck!" I called at her as she began to walk away.

"I'll be back soon! Then we can celebrate with cake!" she called, glancing over to me.

"Hurry back!"

She looked at me once more, smiling and waving, before she disappeared into the trees.

I looked around me to see it all quite empty.

"This is going to be boring," I thought to myself, walking towards the rock Natsu was sitting on earlier.

I climbed up the rock and stood atop of it so that I can see the border better. The village was behind me along with some fields of wheat while the large, green, forest stood before me. The trails sprawled out and zigzagged behind shrubby bushes. They were clear from debris so it meant that they have been used often enough.

I sat down and faced the forest.

"This is going to be one long hour..." I mumbled, already bored.

Minutes passed and I stayed still on the rock, looking left and right for some movement, tapping my fingers on the rock

"I haven't used magic in while..." I thought, as my fingers twitched in anticipation, "Maybe I could..."

Instantly I stood up, jumping below the rock and landing easily on my feet.

I clapped my hands together and smiled excitedly. "This will be fun," I thought.

I could feel my magic buzzing in anticipation, wanting to be released after a long time of staying within me.

Just as I was about to use magic, a memory flashed in my head. One I had no desire to remember. One filled with pain and sorrow.

"Leave me alone!" I shouted, crying in agony as my left wrist was bound to a wall.

"Come on now Poppy. This does not have to painful. Do what I have asked you to do. I do not want to hurt you," replied a voice.

I cried harder. "I...I can't! I'm not that strong! I don't want to use my magic for that!"

The voice sighed. "We have been through this before Poppy."

I shook my head, terrified. "No! Please don't. Just..Let me go...I'll do anything but that."

"I warned you Poppy. You are wasting my time."

My eyes grew wide as I felt my magic being pulled away from me. I struggled against my restrains to try to find an escape.

I screamed as electricity shocked me and ripped me of the majority of my magic, leaving only a bit so that I would survive for another round.

"That's it Poppy. You are giving me more and more each time."

I fell in agony and exhaustion as the chains burned my skin and stretched my joints.

"Why?" I thought, letting the darkness take me away.

I found myself sitting on the ground as the memory disappeared, hands shaking slightly.

I shook my head. "It's okay Poppy. He's not here anymore. He can't do that to you anymore. Your magic is yours to use, just like Gaia taught you."

I took a deep breath. "You can use your magic again. Nothing will happen," digging my hands in the dirt and feeling calmer.

My magic buzzed once more and I laughed in joy and excitement.

"Look. It's Poppy. The master wants her again. Let's take her back boys," said a voice I recognized.

I opened my eyes and saw three men, mages, standing in front of me, carrying large bags. The man who spoke was a teenager, Natsu's age, in front of the two other men. He had piercings on his right ear was wearing a vest with no shirt under and large, purple pants. His partners, years older, looked like brothers, both large and muscly, wearing black pants and black V-necks. One of the brothers had short black hair and a large, stubby nose while the other had long black hair and a short, pinched nose. Each man had a guild symbol tattooed on their chests - a symbol, I knew all too well.

"Why did you run away Poppy? Didn't you want to stay with us? We've missed you- especially the master." said the young man, looking a bit sad and angry.

I stood up, facing them and showing no fear.

"Otto. I couldn't stay there anymore! I didn't want to be there! He's evil!" I replied.

Otto chuckled, "That's not your choice. The master took you in and you had to stay. You are just a child and need guidance."

"Otto, please! You were my only friend back there. Leave me alone and let me stay here," I pleaded to him.

Otto chuckled evilly and I could see that he had changed from the sweet, caring friend he once was.

"I took care of you Poppy! I always made sure you were okay. I stole food for you and healed your wounds. I treated you like a little sister and then you disappeared without even saying good-bye. I thought you were dead! Guess who the master blamed?! After all I did for you, you left me and I received the punishment. Now, it's your turn." He glared at me and pulled out a bow and arrow from the bag behind him.

I took a couple steps back.

"Otto...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to hurt you! I needed to get away and you know that!" I said, tears flowing down my cheeks. "Don't make me hurt you. We are still friends. I don't want to hurt you but I'm not going back."

Otto smirked. "It's too late for apologies. You will never hurt me again. It's your turn now."

"What happened to you?" I mumbled, sad and scared.

He let go of the arrow. "Arrow magic: Immobilize!"

I ducked and hid behind a rock.

"Boulder magic: Disintegrate!"

The rock before me turned to pieces and I was expose, seeing the smirk on stubby nose's face.

Otto laughed, "You can't hide Poppy. We've grown stronger. The master has helped us."

I held my hands up and walked back slowly. "Otto...Please! I don't want to use my magic. You know why!"

He pulled out three more arrows, "Surrender then," he put his bow down. "We could be together again."

I shook my head, "No! I want to grow up free. I don't want to go back there..."

He held his bow up, "Too bad. Arrow magic: Follow!"

I ran as fast as I could but the arrows followed me.

"You can't keep running! The arrows will reach you soon since they are powered by my magic," shouted Otto as he saw me running in between rocks.

"Mud Style: Quicksand! Boulder Magic: Grow!"

I fell to the ground, as my feet began sinking in quicksand and the rocks before me grew to hold me in place.

"Arrow magic: sleep!"

I saw the three arrows head towards me and I closed my eyes.

"Guess I have to use my magic," I thought, opening my mouth as power slowly flowed through me.

Suddenly, I heard the arrows snap in half and someone lifted me up from the quicksand and onto the ground.

I opened my eyes and saw Erza standing in front of me, sword in hand while the bits of broken arrow fell from her hand. She let go of me and moved forward.

Otto smirked, "Oh the great Titania is here. Leave the girl to us and we will be on our way. She's our belonging."

Erza radiated anger and I saw Otto's smile fade slightly.

"You three have attacked this village and stolen goods from them. You are criminals and I will take you in for that," she paused, "Not only that but you dared to harm my little sister and no one ever gets away with that."

Otto frowned but later smiled. "Guess our Poppy here is even more powerful than she implied. Master will be happy to hear this."

Erza raised her sword. "You will not lay another finger on her."

Otto smiled wickedly, "We'll see about that. Arrow Magic: Rampage!"

"Reequip: Empress Armor!"

The two engaged in battle, arrows and swords everywhere. I stood back in awe.

"Erza-nee sure is strong! And Otto has grown stronger. I bet it's his doing," I thought.

"Don't forget about us," snarled pinched nosed, grabbing me and covering my mouth with his sweaty, large hand.

I fought back in shock. Erza was fighting three of them and yet one was right here with me.

"Mud style magic. I'm a doppelganger made of mud," replied the man, pulling my hair and lifting me over his shoulder like a bag of rice.

"Dammit!" I thought, punching him as hard as I could.

He smacked my head, causing me to grow slack in pain.

"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"

Suddenly, I was dropped to the ground. I landed painfully and held my head, shutting my eyes tightly.

"Poppy! Poppy! Are you okay?" asked Lucy, kneeling beside me and shaking me slightly.

"My head...hurts...I'll be fine," I said, reaching into the ground a bit to regain some power.

I opened my eyes and waited for the black spots of pain to leave. My head felt numb but I could still see.

Natsu and Gray were fighting pinched nose while Erza fought all three men.

"Lucy! Get her out of here! We'll take care of these guys!" shouted Gray, punching the man before he reached me and creating an ice floor so that no more doppelgangers could be made in the area.

"Got it!" said Lucy, pulling me up carefully and grabbing my hand to run.

"I'm sorry Poppy but we have to go. You're hurt," said Lucy, dragging me to run with her.

"But... It's me they want!" I replied, adrenaline filling my body and numbing the pain.

Lucy stopped and we hid behind a boulder. "You're part of our family and they won't be taking you away!" she hugged me tightly and we stayed quiet for a moment.

"Found you!" said Otto climbing over the boulder and jumping in front of you.

"How...Erza-nee!" I cried, standing up in worry. Lucy stood in front of me, one arm over my chest to keep me from running.

Otto laughed, "She's a bit...preoccupied..."

I turned and saw swarms and swarms of arrows flying over Erza. She stood, determined and angry as she sliced each one up one by one. Little did she know that stubby nose was nearby, expanding a boulder and slowly making it roll down a hill, right to where she stood.

"Erza!" cried Lucy, in shock, her arm dropping from me.

"Noooo!" I shouted running towards my sister.

Otto laughed and grabbed me, holding me by my arms. "Oh no you don't Poppy. You only have one sibling and that's me."

I shook in anger and fear.

Lucy pulled out her keys but Otto called out an arrow and took them away from her.

"No you don't. The powerful Erza must go down."

My body shook and I screamed as loud as I could, power pouring out of my body. The ground cracking below me and Otto let go of me in order to stay standing. The trees around us grew tall and wide and the mud doppelgangers that Natsu and Gray were fighting became puddles of water as the dirt flew in the air. They looked at me in shock while Erza, scared, turned to me.

"Poppy!" she mouthed, worried, taking her attention off from the arrows around her.

I saw stubby nose release the boulder.

"EARTH DRAGON'S ROAR!" I yelled, taking a deep breath and inhaling the dirt around me and then exhaling, hand out in front of my mouth, and sending it towards the boulder.

Both stubby nose and pinched nose fell down from the power while the arrows and the boulder were destroyed by my roar. Erza stood, untouched by the earth, looking at me with wide eyes. Gray, Lucy, and Happy looked at me in shock while Natsu grinned happily.

"I knew it! I could smell it off you!" he shouted.

"You really have grown stronger," said Otto has he came up behind me and grabbed my left wrist.

On instinct, I yelped and fell to the ground, awaiting for the pain to come.

"Oi! Let her go!" shouted Natsu, running towards us.

"Not so fast!" said Otto, twisting my left wrist and pinching it tightly causing me to scream in pain, "Come closer and she gets it."

Natsu stopped, boiling in anger and Erza came behind him.

"You let her go," she commanded, eyes intense with rage.

"Poppy, you can do it. You are not there again. You can use your magic freely," I thought to myself, ignoring the pain and trying to calm down.

Otto laughed, "I don't think so. She's useful."

Erza moved forward but stopped when Otto twisted my wrist more. I closed my eyes and cried harder.

"One more move forward and I'll break her wrist."

Erza stood still, eyes throwing daggers at him but not wanting to cause me more pain.

"You won't take her away," said Erza, dangerously.

"Oh but I will!" said Otto, producing a magic transporter from his pocket. "We always escape and get what we want."

Erza shook in rage moving ever so slightly, "Don't you dare!"

Otto smiled and twisted my wrist. I could feel by bone splitting and I knew I only had a second.

"Earth Dragon's Tremor!" I yelled, causing the ground to shake and Otto to lose his grip on me. I called the Earth towards me and pulled it up, raising myself above him.

"I'll be back Poppy," said Otto, cursing as he threw the transporter at the ground and disappeared.

I smiled slightly. "My magic is mine again. I don't feel..."

My left wrist stung and electricity coursed through my veins. My body twitched and I screamed in pain.

"Otto...you did it...when you grabbed my wrist...you were my friend...why Otto," I thought, giving in to the pain and letting gravity pull me down.

"Erza-nee," I mumbled, mind going blank.