I spent one more night in the infirmary under the watchful eyes of Porlyusica and Wendy in order to regain some magic before I was released to Erza with strict orders of not using magic for another week or so. Most of my injuries were healed other than my wrist which would be kept in a cast for a couple of more days to ensure that it heals properly.

"How are you feeling Poppy-chan?" asked Lucy, sitting next to me by the bar counter as Mira also came up, handing Lucy a strawberry milkshake and handing me a vanilla milkshake along with some medicine.

"It's to help you regain your magic and prevent you from getting sick; Porlyusica left them for you and Erza has the rest," said Mira, with a smile as she noticed my confused look.

"Okie Dokie," I replied, swallowing the medicine with delicious vanilla shake.

"I'm alright Lucy. I'm feeling a lot better now though I'm still quite tired and don't have much energy," I answered, smiling at her as I drank more milkshake.

"You've healed up quickly. Most of your injuries are gone and you're able to move about."

I smiled, "That's thanks to Porlyusica-san and Wendy-chan." I held my left hand up, "This is the only injury. It couldn't fully heal yet given how hurt it was but it'll be better soon!" I finished, drinking the rest of my milkshake.

"Oi! Lucy! Let's go on a mission!" shouted Natsu, running towards her with his backpack on and Happy floating next to him.

"We already picked one out!" said Happy, holding a request worth 700,000 jewels.

"700,000 Jewels! I can pay my rent for the next couple of months with that!" Lucy replied, her eyes wide, before she looked at me.

"What about Team Natsu?" asked Lucy.

Natsu looked confused, "What about the team? We can all go?"

Lucy sighed, "Baka Natsu! Poppy can't use her magic yet and Erza wouldn't want her to go."

"Erza is with the Master at a council meeting looking for clues on the dark guild that took Poppy and Wendy left with Porlyusica to look for more healing supplies," added Mira.

"That still leaves you, mini-Erza, the Ice Princess, and Happy! Come on Lucy! We haven't gone on a mission for weeks!" pleaded Natsu, giving her puppy dog eyes.

"Think of your rent," whispered Happy into her ear.

I looked at them as Lucy met my eyes, biting her lip before I smiled, "No worries Lucy-san! You guys go on ahead and find that treasure," I said, pointing at Natsu's request, "I'll stay here and rest while I wait for Erza-nee! She'd kill you and me if I left all of the sudden," I added mumbling.

Natsu sweat-dropped, thinking of Erza, "Poppy is right...Erza would be mad if Poppy joined us and got hurt."

"Erza's scary!" mumbled Happy slowly dropping to the ground in fear.

I chuckled, "Erza-nee's not that bad!"

"Oi! Ash for Brains! Are we going on that mission?" shouted Gray, walking towards us shirtless.

"Come on Lucy!" said Natsu, ignoring Gray as he looked to Lucy.

Lucy sighed, standing up, "I do need to pay my rent...Okay! Let's go! You'll-"

"Lu-chan!" interrupted Levy, running up to Lucy, her hair slightly disheaveled as she carried a large book.

"Oh! What is it Levy-chan?" turning towards her.

"The mission...you're going on! The town it's near had a couple of kidnappings two years ago, of young mages. The kidnappers were never found but sightings of a man using arrow magic and two big men."

My eyes widened, "Otto..." remembering the times someone else would wake me up to go training because he was on a mission.

"Apparently, he was sighted in that area again. No kidnaps have been reported," Levy said looking at me as Mira placed a hand on my shoulder. "Can you guys stop by and check it out to see if there are any clues to where their guild headquarters are?"

Natsu nodded seriously, "Yeah, we'll stop by and look around. I remember that bastard's scent so if he's there, I'll find him." Natsu punched his fists together as Happy chimed, "Aye Sir!"

"We better get going to catch the next train," said Gray, heading out of the Guild shirtless. Natsu began to look green, "Do we have to go on a train?" as he walked away sheepishly with Happy following him.

"Take this Lu-chan," said Levy, handing Lucy her book, "These are reports and the history of that town. Be careful and good luck!" she finished, giving Lucy a hug.

"I'll make sure Natsu doesn't destroy anything..." Lucy mumbled, returning the hug, "Arigato Levy-chan!" Lucy then turned to me, "Are you sure it's okay?"

I slowly left my memories, noticing Lucy's, Mira's, and Levy's concerned looks before nodding quickly, "Hei! Erza-nee will be back and I should rest! Enjoy the mission and let me know if you find any clues," I said standing and giving Lucy a hug, "I'll be here this time, waiting," I mumbled.

Lucy returned the hug, tightly, before releasing me and following the ream, "Ja ne! We'll be back soon!"

I watched them leave before sitting back down on the bar stool.

"Here you go Poppy-chan," said Mira, handing me another vanilla milkshake.

"Are you okay Poppy-chan?" asked Levy, taking the seat Lucy was in.

I nodded, "Hei, I just wished I could have gone..."

"Don't be silly Poppy-chan! Natsu, Gray, and Lucy can handle the job and they'll be back soon! Plus, you still need to regain your magic!" said Levy.

"Erza will return soon as well," added Mira.

I sighed, "I know but I can't help and feel guilty. I showed up unexpectedly at the Guild, hurt, and as soon as I healed up, I got injured again and I was the reason behind the attack in the first place! I don't want to be the reason any of you get hurt..." my eyes slowly watered as I whispered the last bit.

Levy came and gave me a hug, "Poppy-chan, you are part of Fairy Tail and are our Nakama. We will always fight for you. Plus, this is Fairy Tail, the number one Guild in Fiore! We will not go down easily!"

I nodded, chuckling at that.

"I have to go now Poppy, but I'll see you later okay?" said Levy, releasing me.

"Hei! Arigato Levy-san!"

Mira tapped me on the shoulder and I turned to face her.

"Why don't we go on a walk? Erza might take a while and it might help if you had some fresh air," asked Mira, smiling.

I nodded, "Okay!"

Mira came around the bar and I stood to follow her out.

"Elfman. Lissana. I'm going out with Poppy for a while, will you two watch the bar for me?" asked mira, stopping in front of her siblings.

"That's a Man's job!" exclaimed Elfman, quickly walking towards the bar.

Lisanna looked at him nervously, "I'll keep an on him Mira-Nee!"

"Arigato Lisanna!" replied Mira before walking out. I quickly followed her.

We walked for about twenty minutes, away from the Guild and Magnolia. We passed Fairy Hills before Mira began to follow a trail into a small, woodland area. Mira turned to me while still walking, "Are you okay Poppy?"

I nodded, torn between feeling completely relaxed in nature and a bit nervous in entering a forested area again - not that it's dense with trees but still... Erza-nee wasn't here. "I'm okay," I responded, not knowing how to express my thoughts.

"I have two younger siblings Poppy, so don't try and lie to me," she replied, causing me to blush, as she began to slow down, "We're here."

I looked around and saw that we were in a small clearing next to a stream. There was a table and chairs built from wood but seemed rarely used in compared to some mats hidden next to a tree.

"Mira-san, what is this?" I asked point at the marks on the tree.

Mira stood behind me, "These mark the amount of missions Erza went on to try and find you. On your birthday or around holidays, she went on missions and we didn't see her for a week or more. When she returned from her missions, she would check in at the Guild before coming here, saying it reminded her of your hideout when you were a kid. I would sometimes join her and give her company as only the Master and I knew about you."

"Why did you bring me here?" I asked, turning to Mira confused.

"To talk," she replied, picking up two mats and laying them out. She sat down and leaned against the tree. I copied her and looked towards her.

"What's been on your mind?" asked Mira, "Answer honestly please"

I leaned back on the tree and shut my eyes, trying to think of what to say before I heard my voice spill everything to Mira.

"I feel guilty Mira, but I'm so happy and, at the same time, I'm scared. If anyone gets hurt because of Otto, or Midnight or the Master, then it's all my fault! It's my fault Otto is like this way since I escaped without him and the Master punished him. I feel guilty for making Erza-nee worry for me and Fairy Tail for worrying for me. I feel guilty for leaving Kagura and Violet-nee."

"But I'm so happy! Fairy Tail is such a fun guild to be in. It's a family and I love you guys so much and I'm with Erza-nee again, after all these years."

"And it makes me sad because she went through so much and our childhoods were taken from us."

"And I'm scared for the future. What happens if they find us? What happens if someone gets hurt? What happens if I lose Erza-nee again? What happens if I'm alone again? I'm weak...and I can't lose her again..."

I finished, wiping my eyes as tears fell down.

Mira pulled me close to her and wrapped her arms around me as I lost control and cried.

Just like Erza-nee, Mira stroked my hair as I cried into her chest.

"It's okay Poppy. You can let it all out," soothed Mira.

I soon stopped crying and wiped the tears out of my eyes as I began to sit up, though Mira stopped me, smiling at me. I smiled back and then rested my head on her lap where she continued to stroke my hair.

"You know Poppy...I lost Lisanna once. I thought she was gone forever. I felt awful because she is my younger sister and I am supposed to protect her but all I could do was help Elfman. He needed me."

I listened to Mira carefully as she stopped stroking my hair for a minute before continuing.

"Then...One day...She came back. Out of nowhere my little sister came back. She was healthy and she was alive and I could not believe that I had her back."

"But, as I watched her, I could see that time had passed between us and that was hard. I was supposed to protect her and watch her grow up but it seemed that she had done it herself. She could protect herself and, as much as I did not want to admit it, she had grown up. But I wouldn't change anything. At least I had her back and I am going to enjoy every minute I spend with her. I could not be there for her as a kid, but at least I can be there for her now and watch her grow to a strong woman."

"Yes, you and Erza were seperated when you both were kids and you lost time that you cannot get back but you have more time for the future now that you two are together. You're still a child Poppy. You're still growing up and Erza will be there for you."

I smiled and closed my eyes as I continued to listen to her.

"Erza will always be there for you. I've known Erza for a long time, ever since she joined the Guild. She never told anyone about her past other than the Master and me but she didn't tell me until after I lost Lisanna. Before that, we didn't get along. We would always fight and argue because she would show up to the guild after long missions and never told anyone where she went. It was annoying because she shut everyone out. It wasn't until after I lost Lisanna that we became close. Erza found me crying next to Lisanna's grave and gave me a hug. She told me that she knew my pain and that we can't give up as older sisters."

"Erza never gave up on you Poppy. She knew that you were out there somewhere and was determined to find you. And, now that you're back, she will stay by your side."

I slowly felt myself begin to fall asleep as her strokes comforted me.

"And it's not just Erza but all of Fairy Tail. Poppy, you will never be hurt by that Dark Guild again. We will not let them touch you. They will be taken in for all their evil doings."

"And Poppy, you will never be alone again. We're your Nakama and always will be.

(Note: Poppy has fallen asleep)

Mira smiled and looked down at Poppy, brushing her red hair out of her forehead, "It looks like you have fallen asleep...You are still recovering and the walk here must have taken a toll on you. It's alright Poppy. Just rest and get better. We'll take care of you."

"I thought I would find you here," said Erza, leaning against the tree and looking down at Mira and Poppy, smiling at the scene before her.

"Erza! I hope you weren't worried!" replied Mira, looking up to Erza.

Erza shrugged, "I almost murdered Cana when I overheard her say that Natsu and Lucy had gone on a mission and she hadn't seen Poppy since they have left. I was ready to kill Natsu for being an idiot and taking Poppy out but Lisanna saw me and told me that Poppy went on a walk with you. I thought of places you would go and this was the only place that came to mind... Is she okay?" asked Erza, worryingly.

Mira nodded, brushing Poppy's hair and looking down at her with a slight smile. "Her injuries are almost healing and she already took her medicine. I believe the medicine and the walk exhausted her but she's resting. She's struggling to adjust... She's scared Erza and worried. She doesn't want to hurt you again but she doesn't want to be left alone again. I think she's happy to be in Fairy Tail but she doesn't know how to fit in and part of it is because of her time in Mermaid Heel. She misses Kagura and Violet. She's lost a lot of people Erza, and I think she's terrified that it's all her fault that everyone has left. She doesn't want to be alone anymore."

Erza sighed, "I know, I see the way she acts. As soon as she thinks I'm not looking, her eyes grow sad and scared and she can be quite jumpy but I promise that she will never be left alone again. I can't lose her again. I'll help her move forward just as the guild helped me move forward after living in the Tower."

"Did you find any information on the dark guild from the council?" asked Mira, looking back to Erza.

Erza shook her head, "No. They hadn't known this was occurring. They're going to start looking at all their reports and let me know if they find any information. But the guild is going down." She curled her hand into a fist, "They will never touch her again."

Mira nodded, and looked to Poppy before returning her eyes to Erza, "Never."

Erza sighed, "I am going to take Poppy back now and let her rest in bed. I'll give her more medicine when she wakes up."

Erza slowly lifted Poppy up bridal style and smiled as Poppy snuggled closer to her. She carefully reequipped out of her armor into her regular clothes and Poppy soon grabbed a handful of Erza's shirt as she slept.

Mira stood up and smiled, "She's just soo cute! And so innocent."

Erza nodded, "She's seen so much but she's still just a child, barely ten. Thank you for watching over her Mira and for talking to her; I think she needed to get it out of her."

Mira put a hand on Erza's shoulder, "Always Erza. She's family. Don't hesitate to ask for help."

With that, the two began to walk back towards Fairy Hills as the little red-head slept peacefully, feeling safe and cared for.