Disclaimer: All characters except those I invent myself belong to Hiro Mashima.

Back to first person now. A little teaser into Amaya's brain.

The italicized part before the chapter belongs to Erin Hanson.

Please do review and let me know what you think!

It's said she's made of storm cells

And a wild wolf's hungry heart

That she's learnt the lightning's secret

To ripping darkened skies apart

CHAPTER THREE- HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT

I dream of him again.

Of them both.

The one who was my greatest ally.

And the one who is my greatest enemy.

Even as my body tightens, curls in on itself in preparation for the painful onslaught; the process is mechanical—almost resigned.

As though I have become resigned to this grief.

"Get back!" He screams, pushing me away so firmly I stumble and fall.

I growl in protest. "You're not strong enough to take her."

He meets my glare with his own.

"Neither are you."

"Squabbling in a middle of a duel to the death?"

The unearthly woman bares her teeth in a razor sharp smile.

"Arrogance does not suit weaklings."

Anger surges through me, and I launch myself at the attacker.

Only to find myself rebounding against an impenetrable wall.

A null shield.

I turn my betrayed eyes towards him accusingly.

He smiles sadly.

"Gomen nasai, Ami-chan. I cannot see you hurt."

"Aw, look at that," The woman croons with fake sympathy.

"Little warrior boy is trying to save you."

I grit my teeth, straining against the barrier, even though I know it is futile.

His magic is equal to my own.

And yet, he will not let me fight with him against this witch- woman.

She sinks into a crouch, and I crash against the wall, screaming in panic and a bone-deep sense of foreboding.

Dark blue magic energy pulsates in her hands.

He turns to look at me wistfully, and gives me a familiar, crooked grin.

"I did promise to protect you; didn't I, Ami?"

"LET ME OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW," I yell, thrashing uselessly against his shield.

His cursed speciality—null shields: the power to cancel out a wizard's magic.

"Live well, my little hellion," He says gently.

"Remember I love you."

My mouth pops open in shock and rising fear.

He has never said that before.

Ever.

"Always-"

But I will never hear the rest of that sentence; as the she-witch's magic rays rip my dear, foolish protector apart.

The null shield collapses.

My scream is so loud; the trees in the clearing seem to ripple.

I dash across the grass, gathering up the broken remains of his body and cradle them in my arms, rocking back and forth.

The grief is blinding.

"NO!" I shriek. "DON'T LEAVE ME, DON'T, DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE AGAIN!"

I do not know if the slickness coating my arms belongs to his blood or my tears.

This is my fault.

When I hear the cold, distant laughter I realize his killer is still here.

I stagger to my feet, gently setting his body down.

My lips pull back from my teeth in a savage grimace.

"I. Will. Kill. You." I snarl.

The witch only laughs some more.

"Kill me or not, it makes no difference to me, little stripling."

"I was ordered to kill the boy and leave you be."

As I hear the words, I freeze.

Ordered.

To.

Kill.

Him.

"Who?" I jump at the witch, desperately clawing at her, at any part of her, half-crazed as I am with grief and pain.

"I will never tell you; seraphim scum!" She spat.

I see red as I look at his pitiful body again.

The ground shakes under my feet as I release the magic power within me.

"ROAR OF THE DARK DRAGON!"

But even as the billowing tornado issues from my mouth, I can see it is too late.

The witch extinguishes her own life force and withers away; taking the secret of who murdered my only support in the world with her.

He is dead.

There is nothing left for me to do but sink to my knees and shred my own throat with my howls.

I jerk awake, my eyes flying open as the nightmare recedes; breathing heavily.

I brush my hand against his photo in silent regret as I step out into the dark balcony, breathing in the night air.

The night always calmed me— I braced myself against the wall as I let my eyes flutter shut.

Three years later, and the grief was just as sharp.

I had ravaged my body training, waiting, learning—preparing for the time I would avenge him.

I had hidden my sorrow, my rage, my hate under an indifferent mask, biding my time, watching, waiting.

Always watching.

A wolf in sheepskin.

I had travelled all over the land, searching for clues as to whom the witch had served.

All I had gleaned was that he had been male, a powerful, evil mage—that no one had seen or heard of in decades.

Still.

I clenched my fists, watching as the knuckles turned white.

The loss was as devastating as it had been three years ago, and I gritted my teeth.

No tears, I told myself.

None till he is found.

Because I would find him.

The killer of my happiness.

Yet I could not hold it in any longer, not anymore, tipping my head back as I released a fierce cry into the sky.

A single name.

It spoke of desolation, of death- of despair.

It spoke of revenge.

"YURI!"

I would find and destroy him, the one who had ended Yuri's life.

I would find him, or die trying.

~Fairy Tail~ ~Third Person PoV~

Far, far away in a shack on the outskirts of Magnolia, the pink-haired mage's ears twitched as he heard a loud feminine cry ringing through the night.

It was a clarion call of challenge—of retribution; and something in Natsu's blood rose in response, as if recognizing a fellow spirit.

It sounded like a promise of death.

Like the roar of an avenging dragon.

Natsu cracked one eye open.

It also sounded suspiciously like Amaya...

Nah. Must be dreaming...

His eyes drifted shut, the roar still ringing in his ears.

I hear ya, dragon.

Maybe we can fight together sometime...

Natsu slumbered on.

Reviews are love!