Silence fell over the courtyard after I said the name. eyes of the soldiers drifted between us, waiting for someone to make the next move. Riza looked like she was about to say something before she was cut off by the boys annoyed yelling.

"No! why does everyone mistake me for my brother!" his face was turning as bright a red as his jacket. He reached up and ruffled the hair on the sides of his head before pointing one finger in my direction. "You listen up! Im not Ed! Im the soul splitter alchemist! A-"

"Alphonse…" I said, falling to my knees as the tears began to fall down my face. "Alphonse your… your really…"

"Uh… Do I know you?" Al said, backpedaling after I said his name. "I don't think I've ever met you before."

Riza finally say her opening to step in. "Al, go find your brother, tell him to come to the Furor's office." She smiled in a way I had only seen once before. "Tell him that someone came to see him."

"Okay? Do I get a name to tell him?" Al said, the confused look staining his face.

"Give him this." I said, reaching into my bag and pulling out a mask, slick black and faceless, and slid it across the pavement. "He'll know."

Without another word he turned and walked into the crowd. But then another voice behind me slingshot me back into reality. "Uh, Darren? Who are these people?" Mira asked from within the Members of Fairy Tail.

"This is Riza-"

"Yea Riza Hawkeye, Mustangs second. I'm talking about the red head in the armor and the big guy who looks like could give Armstrong a run for his money." She said plainly.

Elfman looked at her with a shocked and scared look on his face. "Sis what are you talking about." He reached to set a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't touch me!" she yelled as she stood up, running to hide behind me. "I don't know you!"

I turned to face her. "Mirajane. What is the last thing you remember?"

The puzzled look on her face hardened. "You had just left, you were going to tell my father you were quitting and moving to a town in the country. I had gotten into my car and then… I was here. Why? Whats going on?"

I closed my eyes, raising one hand to her shoulder and raising the other off to the side. "Don't worry Mira, its gonna be okay. Just close your eyes." And as she did, I quickly struck the side of her neck, rendering her unconscious. Catching and lowering her to the ground before Erza had a blade pressed against my back.

"You had better have the best excuse I've ever heard if you don't want me to run you through." Her words as sharp as her blade.

I turned to look her in the eye before I spoke. "Because this Mirajane was my fiancée, and… and she…"

Thankfully Riza stepped in to finish for me. "She died. Three years ago. The year before he disappeared."

The car ride to the offices silent, Nobody knew what to say. I had just dropped a bombshell in the middle of what seemed like a warzone, right after we traveled into a different world. The bus moved swiftly through the streets (much to Natsu's dismay) until we arrived outside the capitol building. The familiar white stone columns and doorways were a calming sight.

"Darren this way. Were going right into this meeting." Riza called, almost running out of the bus.

I ran behind her, quickly flanked my Erza, not wanting to let me out of her sight. The rest of the group was being taken into the waiting room by the other soldiers. We ran through the twisting corridors until we reached the office. Hawkeye opened the door, yelling inside "wake up! Did you sign all those papers you were supposed to or are you sleeping on the couch again tonight!"

"I promise its all done…" said a drowsy voice on the other side of the room. "Don't make me-" his voice became more alive as I stepped through the door "You…"

"YOU BASTARD!" yelled a woman's voice from outside, before a heavy wrench flew through the open window hitting me in the forehead.