It has been a while but I'm inspired to write again. Please let me know what you think!
"Is it normal for her to be sleeping this long?"
A light voice hummed in response, "You know that Wendy checked on her before going to Polyscia's home and said that Poppy-chan is fine. Yesterday took a lot from her, with training with Natsu, missing a meal, and her panic attack. Her body needs to rest."
I heard a sigh, "You're right. I'm worrying without a reason. I can't help it. She is my little sister and I finally have her back and I can't help but feel she is going to slip through my fingers soon…there's the guild that's looking for her…and that bind. Mira, we have to get the bind off. We have to..."
I heard the voice trail off before the original voice spoke, "Erza, we will get that bind off of her. We will protect her and you will get to spend time with her again. Instead of worrying, you should focus on the present. Levy is doing research and Laxus's team has gone out searching for the new location of the guild. The Master is meeting with the council whenever new information comes out and has informed the other Lamia Scale and Blue Pegasus of the situation. Even Team Natsu is helping by taking short missions nearby to support you two. You are not doing this alone. We're here for you."
"Arigato Mira. I can't imagine doing this without you. The second we find this dark guild, you'll stay behind and watch Poppy right? I must go and destroy them and I refuse to let Poppy near them anymore. The only Red they will see is that of my blades."
"Noooo…Nee-san," I moaned, feeling the need to alert the two of my consciousness. I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the brightness of the room, seeing Mira and Erza look surprise from the foot of the bed- Erza's bed.
"Poppy-"began Erza before I cut her off, looking into her brown eyes.
"No Erza-nee. You can't kill and you can't leave me. If you go them, I'm going with you," I stated, sitting up on her bed but not breaking eye contact.
"No Poppy. This is not up to discussion. You will never see them again," stated Erza firmly.
I stood up from the bed, causing Mira to move closer to me to ensure my safety.
I puffed my chest, trying to seem a bit bigger and not so childlike, "You can't tell me what to do. If I want to go to the guild, then I'm going. They took me away and I want to know what their grand plan with me was. I want to know how the others are doing – the nice ones."
Before Erza could say anything else, Mira joined in, "Why don't we ponder over what might happen and focus on the now hm? We can worry about that in the future. Right now, Poppy, how are you feeling? You've been sleeping since yesterday afternoon and it's nearly three in the afternoon now."
I glared at Erza for a second more, noticing that she did not look angry but sad, before turning to Mira whose blue eyes were filled with concern and I caught a second of sorrow before it disappeared.
"Why are they sad?" I thought to myself before answering her question, the anger slowly leaving my voice as I spoke.
"I feel good! Tired but not sleepy tired. Only tired from sleeping so long. And I'm a little sore from the fight with Natsu but I don't want to be lying down anymore. I wanna move around."
Mira chuckled while Erza smiled slightly.
"Why don't we go to the guild? Wendy can check on you and we can see what the others are up to," asked Erza.
"I believe there will be a game night tonight with Gajeel playing his music and member playing various games – though it will probably end in a brawl," added Mira.
"We'll leave before it gets to that point; I think Red's had enough fighting for today."
I felt my anger flare, "I can make my own decisions, thank you."
Erza and Mira looked at me in surprise before I looked away and left the bed.
"I'm going to get change now and then we can go."
As I left the room, I felt my anger simmer down being replaced by guilt.
"Why am I angry at Erza-nee? She's trying to look out for me," I thought to myself.
I could feel tears coming into my eyes and I quickly changed so that I could apologize to Erza. As I was tying my shoes, I heard Erza whisper to Mira, her voice filled with emotion,
"Mira…I think it's happening. The bind… its…it's…" Erza stumbled before Mira soothed her.
"Calm down Erza. Do not forget she is a Dragon Slayer and may be able to hear you. It's too soon to tell. Maybe she's cranky from all the sleep. Besides, we have all our resources searching for an answer. Let's enjoy the day while we can."
"Is Erza-nee keeping a secret from me? Do they know something and haven't told me?" I thought, my blood boiling as I walked over to them.
Erza's back was faced to me as Mira held her in a hug.
"Is everything okay? Is something happening to me? Is Erza-nee mad at me for being me?!" my anger once again disappearing, replaced by worry.
"I'm sorry Erza-nee! I'm sorry! I'm sowwy!" I cried, tears falling as I raced forward to give her a hug, "Please don't be mad at me!"
Erza's arms wrapped around me, "It's okay Poppy. I'm not mad."
I looked at her with my teary eyes, "Really?"
She smiled and ruffled my hair, "Really. Now ready to go to the guild?"
I nodded, wiping my eyes, "Hei!"
Before I could do anything else, Mira took me into her arms and began squishing me.
"Kawaiiiiiii! Your r's are so kawaii!"
I struggled in her arms, "Can't…breathe…"
"Oh! Sorry," Mira said sheepishly as she let go and Erza moved me closer to her.
"You're just so kawai, I couldn't help it."
I blushed, my cheeks looking as red as my hair, and looked at the ground. "I can't help it. It slips…"
Erza put her hand on my shoulder, "Red's always had trouble with her R's like I had trouble with my L's. I'm sure she'll grow out of it."
"Can-can we go the guild?" I asked, trying to not sound like I was whining but I felt my anger come back and I wanted to get to the guild to see if I felt better.
Both Mira and Erza nodded and I reached out to grab Erza's hand before my anger flared. I flinched back and, noticing Mira and Erza's wide eyes, tried to find a way out.
"Race ya!" I shouted, as I bolted out of our room and out of the dorm towards the guild.
"What is wrong with me?! Why am I so angry at Erza-nee?" I thought, as I ran as fast I could.
Soon enough, I pushed the doors open and ran towards the table that Wendy and Team Natsu are in.
"Wendy-chan!" I panted, stopping on the side of her at the table, startling her, Lucy, Charle, and Happy.
"Yes Poppy-chan? Is everything okay?" asked Wendy, surprised at my appearance.
"Are you okay Poppy-chan?" asked Lucy in concern.
"Yeah Mini-Erza, where's real Erza?" asked Natsu.
Before I had time to answer, Erza and Mira walked into the Guild.
Erza immediately spotted me, her eyes sad before once again being masked. "Looks like you won Red. Good job."
I smiled and watched as Erza and Mira walked towards the bar to sit by the Master.
"Why didn't Erza come over here?" asked Charle, "Or rather, why aren't you with her at the bar? You always eat with her."
"Aye!" added Happy, looking at me curiously.
"I…um…She…." I stumbled, not knowing how to explain the situation without sounding ridiculous.
"Master, it's happening." I heard Erza say, instantly catching my attention.
The Master hummed in response before speaking, "Have you contacted Porlysia?"
"Not yet. We have been with her until now and wanted to speak to you first. We will call her via lacrima after this," replied Mira.
The Master grunted in agreement before lowering his voice further, "Have you reached Mermaid Heel and contacted Kagura?"
"No Master, not yet," I heard Erza say, ignoring the rest as I began to tremble in anger.
"She knew! They knew! They're all lying to me. Just like Master and Midnight would do! Erza-nee didn't tell me!" I yelled in my thoughts.
Erza turned to me, concern in her eyes before she paled realizing I had heard their conversation. The Guild began trembling with an Earthquake as my anger overtook me. Things fell apart and people were yelling but I ignored it all as I glared at Erza.
"Poppy," she said, her voice cracking as she walked towards me, her eye tearing up.
"NO! YOU CAN'T! YOU LIED! YOU LIED TO ME! I TOLD YOU ABOUT VIOLET-NEE AND KAGURA AND HANA-SAN AND YOU KEPT QUIET BUT YOU KNEW ABOUT THEM AND THAT THEY'RE OKAY" I yelled at her.
Erza blinked and looked me, "I know. Gomen Poppy but I didn't want to overwhelm you since you had just started feeling better and I didn't know how they were doing…Much has happened since you were last with them."
"BUT THEY'RE MY FAMILY! THEY TOOK CARE OF ME WHEN YOU LEFT ME!"
Erza flinched at that and stopped moving towards me, bowing her head down so that I could not see her face.
"Gomen nasai Poppy, I never meant to leave you. I only wanted you safe and sound so I led the kidnapper away from you. If I had known…I would have found another solution..."
The Master held his hands up and took a step towards me, "Poppy, she never meant to hurt you and none of us will cause you any harm. I was the one who told her not to contact Mermaid Heel immediately since we wanted to find out more information on the whereabouts of Violet and Kagura before we reached out."
"IT'S YOUR FAULT THEN! WHY DID YOU MAKE A DECISION FOR ME WITHOUT ASKING ME?! THE OTHER MASTER DID THE SAME THING!" I yelled back, causing a chandelier to crash and Laxus barely reaching Mira to prevent her from being hit.
"Oi, calm her down!" called Laxus.
"Lily, take Shorty out of the Guild before it collapses on top of us!" shouted Gajeel, using his iron arms to hold the roof as members evacuated.
"Poppy-chan! Please relax!" called Wendy, using her sky dragon magic to hover just above the ground to avoid the shaking of the ground I was walking.
"Ice-Make: Shield" shouted Gray, holding up the other half of the roof as Juvia helped members out.
"Poppy-chan, it's okay. We're here with you. We're your nakama," called Lucy, fighting to get close to me.
I felt someone behind me and I instantly shot a boulder up which Natsu melted.
"Poppy, you don't want to do this."
I shook my head, tears streaming down my face.
"I don't know who to trust anymore. Everyone leaves me. They lie. They don't stay."
I felt arms wrap around me and tears hitting my head. I screamed harder and harder to be let go, the earth shaking and my power spiraling around me.
"Poppy, I'm never leaving you again. You will always have me. I'm sorry." I heard Erza weep as she held me tight, ignoring the rocks hitting her.
I cried harder as I felt my magic dissipate and the hints of darkness reaching my eyes but not before I got a glimpse at the guild entrance.
"HANA-SAN?!"