AN: Three reviews? THREE REVIEWS!? I'm not going to lie guys, that hurt. I worked hard on chapter 2, and it hurts to get practically no acknowledgement for your hard work. I mean, even if it's just a couple words, it still means a lot to me when you leave a review. I'm begging you, just write one up, even if it's just a few words.

I still love all of you loyal readers who put up with my flaky schedule and I hope you enjoy this extra-long chapter I posted for your enjoyment. I'm sorry if parts of this chapter seem slow, but I really wanted to show Link's integration with the group and really get a bead on his character. Hopefully I will be able to update more often. So here is CHAPTER 3!

Chapter 3: The Grasp of Darkness

Days turned to weeks and weeks, in turn, became into months. The days blurred together into a meaningless collage of work, sore muscles, disgusting food, and the lash of the whip. Gradually the work became easier for Link, and the swings of the pick-axe required less and less effort. His under-developed muscles were forced to increase in size under the constant duress of the work. His baby fat faded away, a poor supplement for the meager meals provided for him by the Dark Mages. Gradually, the soft child disappeared and a hard working boy came forth.

Scars now adorned his body like a grotesque map of his time on the island. The long, shallow ones on his back were from the whips when he didn't work hard enough, or when one of the guards wished to make an example of him. His hands and feet had split open into sores, forming into hard calluses. When once his skin had been soft and smooth, now it felt like the skin of a cat's paw. The burns and the short but deep ones were from the explosion, the explosion that had brought him to this accursed place.

The bell now ran his life. The bell was his lord, his master, his slaver. One ring to get up in the morning, two rings for the beginning and two more at the end of lunch, and one at the end of work, telling them to go back to their cells. The bells were the only way to tell time, aside from the relentless rise and fall of the sun across the sky. That was one of the worst parts, not knowing the time. It made him feel unmoored in the world, like anything at anytime could blow him away.

During his time there he watched the tower slowly grow, inch by inch, foot by foot. It grew larger and larger, casting it's ever growing shadow across the workers like an ominous storm on the horizon. And as it grew, as did Link's hatred of it. To Link, it represented everything about this place that he hated. It was for it's construction that they all toiled down here; for that damnable building that so many fell to the ground, dead from exhaustion. It was the only time in his life that Link could recall hating a thing.

Midst all this pain and anger, Link held onto the smallest moments of happiness that were so few and far between. Moments like at lunch, talking with Erick, Erza, and Jellal together behind their rock. Moments like singing a working song with Simon and Milliana while they hauled stones. Or moments like Jellal and Wally saving up their urine into jars and slipping it into the guards's soup when he was distracted.

That was one of his favorites. The guards had been sick all week following that incident. And Link didn't care what anyone said, the reduced rations had been worth it.

And still, every now and again, Link dreamed. None of them were as clear and as direct as the one with his father. In fact, many of these felt like memories, sen through the hazy vision of distant recollection. Images of monsters, rushing at him and meeting their doom by some sort of blade, images of beautiful women which he felt a large amount of affection for, shadows of strange and exotic places filled with wonder and majesty. Whenever Link dreamed these dreams, he was always overcome by a sense of courage and valor. the mornings after these dreams Link found he was a little braver than the day previous.

Link had also gained a reputation as a story teller. It had started simply, telling little Sho about one of the Heroes of Legend in order to sheer him up, but then others started to gather around to hear his tales. Suddenly the stories that he had grown up hearing as bedtime stories became a coping mechanism in a dark moment in the lives of good people in a bad situation. Stories like those of the Hero of the Sky setting out into a brave new world enthralled his audiences. The exploits of the Hero of Time held them in glorious rapture. The fairy tales and legends were transformed into visions of hope and courage that these people so desperately needed.

Link tried many times, but he could not express his feelings when he told his stories. Every word that flowed off his tongue filled him with an indescribable joy, yet simultaneously filling him with a bizarre hunger. A hunger to speak more, to tell his stories even more, to spread them to more and more people. It felt like his soul had been set ablaze by celestial fire, giving him a passion and fervor he had never felt before. It was in these moments the the Fire of Faith burned strong in his heart, and for a few moments he felt as though he were back in the little seaside church, but not as a member of the congregation. Rather, he was on the pulpit, delivering a sermon to a gathering of spiritual pilgrims seeking guidance. Whenever he felt this, he felt like he was close to something, something wonderful and good that could not be expressed through words.

And yet, all of these things did nothing to assuage the crushing grief in his heart when he lay down to sleep. In those dark moments when he lay down alone, there was nothing to stave off the memories of his father, mother, grandmother, and sister. And with the memories came the pain of loss, and nothing Link did could stop the tears from flowing. He did his best to keep them quiet, better to suffer alone. Netter not to let the others see him at his weakest. And he was successful for some time.

Until one night.

Link lay on the ground, shivering against the unusual chill in the air. It was an unseasonably cold night, or maybe it was just the beginning of Winter. Link hadn't really been keeping track of the days, and he found he had no idea what month it was, let alone what season.

Link drew himself into a small ball, fighting off the shivers. It was on night like this that he remembered cold Winters with his grandmother. Curling up by the fire with a mug of hot cocoa, his sister nestled down next to him, his grandmother draped in her shawl reading about the adventures of the Heroes of Legend.

Damn, he was crying again. He fought down the tears, trying to keep quiet, but not before one noticed his tears.

"Link" asked the quiet voice of Erza. Link froze up and tried to act asleep, but he heard Erza walking closer, he feet padding against the stone floor. "Link, are crying?" she asked gently."

"N-no. Go away." said Link, trying to mask the emotion in his voice. "I'm fine, go to sleep."

Erza ignored him and kneeled down beside him. "Link, please look at me." she said softly. Link stiffened his body and remained where he was, his jaw set stubbornly. There was no way he was going to let Erza see him like this. He had to be strong now, like the Heroes of Old. And he was sure that they never cried out there on their adventures.

Heroes didn't cry dammit!

They remained like that for a long moment, neither moved from their spot. Erza stayed by his side, and Link refused to meet her gaze, knowing that if he did he would hurt the girl to see him like this.

Then Erza did something that made Link unbelievably happy and uncontrollably emotional.

Erza lay down beside him, wrapped her arms around his torso, and pressed against him in a tight hug. Link was acutely aware of the girl pressing against him, close enough to hear her heart beat and feel the heat from her body. "You're not alone Link." she whispered in his ear. "None of us are."

Link was so filled with emotion that he felt another fresh waves of tears coming to his eyes. Once more he swallowed his emotion and huddled deeper into Erza's hug, the cold no longer bothering him.

As they lay there, both drifting slowly into sleep, neither noticed little Sho creeping up to them. He had had a nightmare, and he normally went to Erza when this happened. However, he saw Erza was cuddled up with Link, which confused the boy, did that mean Erza had had a nightmare? Unsure of what to do, Sho walked up to them as quietly as he could. He stood for a moment, unable to come to a concensus with himself, until finally he lay down beside Erza, cuddling up beside her.

Simon had slept fitfully that whole night, and now the large boy awoke once more. Simon couldn't remember his family very well, but he did know that he had a sister out there somewhere. In this way he could very much identify with Link, he too knew what it was like to lose a sibling. He sat up and looked about, feeling a strange absence in the room that he could not explain. The dark-haired boy then saw the little huddle going on between Link, Sho, and Erza and couldn't help but smile. Simon loved his friends dearly, and the closeness now demonstrated between them made his heart beat proudly.

An idea popping into his head, Simon stood and gently scooped up a sleeping Wally and Milliana, careful not to disturb them in their slumber. Carrying both sleeping children over to the growing pile, and laid them down among them. Wally and Milliana almost immediately assimilated into the pile, and Simon smiled. He himself laid down with them, one arm around Milliana and the other around Wall, using Link's legs as a pillow. After a moment, he closed his eyes, a smile on his face as he slipped once more into the arms of Morpheus.

Jellal woke up with a shiver mentally cursing this entire place, every guard, and the blasted cold overall. He looked p and looked around for some means of warmth, and his eyes fell upon the little pile of children that was his friends. Jellal's first thought was that of amusement, but those thoughts quickly turned to thoughts of happiness. Here were his friends, together, united by love. Jellal smiled, and moved to join them, his head resting on Sho's torso as a pillow, a counted the scratches on the ceiling until sleep finally took him.

When Rob awoke the next morning, he saw a heartwarming sight. His scampy little brats, surrounded by love.

Ghirahim stood over his two bowing underlings, a look of cold fury in his eyes as Raul and Dal blubbered in fear before their master. "Failures, both of you." said Ghirahim coldly. "Every day that you fail to bring this new source of Light before me is another failure. Ninety-seven days, ninety-seven failures. This, of course, is entirely UNACCEPTABLE!" he bellowed in rage.

"L-l-lord Pr-prophet." stuttered Raul. "We've b-b-b-been searching, b-but o-o-our v-v-vision simply isn't a-a-as clear as yours."

"DO NOT GIVE ME EXCUSES!" roared Ghirahim. "They are most certainly not beautiful or fabulous! You know how I feel about unfabulous things you filthy little rats." hissed the Demon Lord.

"We've been trying our best Lord Prophet!" cried Dal.

"Your best... you've been doing your best." said Ghirahim quietly. "Well, then do the best OF SOMEONE BETTER!" thundered Ghirahim.

"W-we are unworthy oh P-p-prophet." Dal wailed miserably.

"Of course you are." said Ghirahim in a loving coo. The change the Ghirahim, went through was so quick that it was alarming. One moment he was raging in fury, the next he was offering comfort and kindness to the two men he had been tearing into not twelve seconds previous. It only served to remind both men that the man before them was dangerous, not to mention unpredictable.

"Of course you both are poor, incompetent little lambs." said Ghirahim caressing their faces like a mother would a sick child. The difference was, whenever Ghirahim touched them they felt cold. It was like the touch of death himself. Both men began to sweat profusely, fear worming it's way through their guts like some sort of demonic parasite. "That's why Ghirahim is here, to take care of his little lambs in the most fabulous way possible." Ghirahim's eyes became cold, very cold, and his voice adopted an icy edge. "However, like any good mother, I can't let my dear, dear little boys get away with foolishness and silliness. No, I dare not spoil the child, what kind of mother would I be then?"

With that he grabbed Raul by his left arm and slammed it to the desk, with Raul screming in terror. Wearing a pleasant smile on his face, Ghirahim drew his rapier with a flourish, the black metal gleaming in the dim light. With a casual stroke of his sword Ghirahim brought down the blade, slicing Raul's hand clean off at the elbow.

Raul fell back on his feet, screaming in pain, writhing on the floor as the feeling of a thousand devils stabbing his arm blasted through him. He looked at the bloody stump, squirting blood a ragged with strips of skin clinging to it. Then, to his shock and horror, a black stuff began to spread across the stump. It was some sort of horrible rot, some foul poison that was rapidly spreading down his arm.

"Oh my, did I do that?" asked Ghirahim in mock shock. "Silly me, I forgot that my blade is coated in Pit Viper venom. Fortunately, I have the antidote." said Ghirahim, producing a bottle of pink liquid from his belt pouch.

Raul desperately reached for it with his good arm, but Ghirahim pulled it away. "Oh no, no, no." said Ghirahim, wagging his finger at Raul who had fallen back to the floor. "Only good little boys get the antidote. Good little boys who give mommy what she asks for." said Ghirahim, a sadistic smile crawling over his face. "If mommy doesn't get her Light, then in three days the venom will kill her stupid little boy." Ghirahim waved at them. "Ta ta." he said with that same pleasant grin on his face.

Raul and Dal screamed and ran from the room as fast as they could, Ghirahim's cackle following them out the door.

Satisfied, Ghirahim examined the hand he had severed. Whistling to himself he sat in his desk, tossing the hand into the air ever once in awhile. Still at his desk he opened the lower cabinet and grabbed from it, a small golden bowl engraved with glowing red runes. Still whistling, Ghirahim held the severed hand over the bowl and began to squeeze the flesh, draining it of blood and emptying it into the bowl. When he was done the arm was squeezed dry, like an over used bottle of toothpaste.

"Indatan, gruninama, poricvin, issmelessum." said Ghirahim, holding his hand over the blood. The incantation finished, Ghirahim withdrew his hand. He grinned in satisfaction as the blood began to bubble.

"Ah, Master, how pleasant to hear from you once more." the blood bubbled in response. "Yes of course sir, the project runs smoothly. The tower is progressing even faster than we originally anticipated. Your puppet will walk this Earth soon enough." the blood bubbled a bit violently, and Ghirahim became paler than he usually was.

"C-coming yourself! But sir, we need all four Lord Souls to do such a thing." the blood bubbled once more, and Ghirahim nodded in understanding. "I see, a possession." Ghirahim grinned widely. "Oh what a deliciously evil and fabulous idea Master." exclaimed Ghirahim. "What about me my Master, what are my orders?" asked Ghirahim eagerly.

Ghirahim gaped when he heard the response. "But my Lord, to double our speed would be almost impossible." The blood violently bubbled and Ghirahim gulped nervously. "My Lord, I'm doing my best-"

The bubbling of the blood cut him off, and Ghirahim nodded with a look of resignation in his eyes. "Yes sir, do the best of someone better. I will."

"Okay Jellal, we're all here. What's going on?" asked Erick sitting down next to Link. Link, Erza, Erick, Milliana, Simon, and Wally sat in a little semi-circle with Jellal and Sho facing the group. The little group of eight, nine if you count Cubellios who was curled around Erick's arm, was meeting behind the little boulder where Link, Erza, and Jellal had first met Erick. This had become a sort of hideout where they planned pranks against the guards, told stories, and played as friends.

Erick had only recently been introduced to the others, but so far they had botten along fairly well. After a few days, it was like Erick had always been a part of their little circle of friends. Cubellios had become a mascot of sorts to them, a symbol of their little band. They were spoiling the snake rotten by smuggling bits of food to it, and generally pampering the purple beast.

Usually their little hideaway was a place of fun and games, a shelter from the brutal reality of their situation. Today though, Jellal and Sho looked deadly serious.

Jellal sighed and addressed the group. "What we're about to talk about cannot leave this place. We can't breath a word of it to anyone else. Not the prisoners, not the guards, not even Rob. This is top secret stuff okay."

The children glanced at each other nervously, each wondering the same question. What was so secret that they couldn't even tell Rob about it?

Erick narrowed his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean Jellal? You don't trust Rob?" asked the boy. Cubellios hissed on his arm, agreeing with her master.

Jellal shook his head. "No, I trust him, but this has to stay between the eight-" Cubellios hissed in indignation, "I'm sorry, nine of us." Jellal corrected.

Erza spoke up. "Um... if Jellal thinks this is so important to keep quiet, I think we should listen to him." she said timidly.

Link nodded in ascent. "I agree, let's keep this quiet." he said simply.

Gradually the others announced their agreement. Even Erick agreed with them, albeit reluctantly. He didn't like the idea of not confiding in the man who had become a guiding light and father figure for them, but he agreed not to tell him... for now.

Jellal nodded. "Good. Now people, what we're about to say is going to seem impossible to believe, but I'm asking you all to take a leap of faith." Jellal turned to Sho. "Go on, tell them what you told me." said the blue-haired boy to the smaller one. Sho sheepishly stepped forward, an exceedingly nervous look on his face. "It's okay, you'll do fine." said Jellal in a comforting tone.

Sho nodded and faced his friends, putting on his best brave face. "Alright." he said, taking a deep breath. "Guys... I think I found a way for us to escape."

Silence reigned in the little group for a grand total of seven seconds. Once that had passed, all Hell broke loose in the group. Shouts of disbelief, anger, hope, and questions filled the air. Link could only stare, not able to believe what he was hearing. After so long confined, Link had given up hope of leaving. Not that he wanted to, more that he hadn't had time to between the work and what little freedom he had. Escape had never really been on his mind as much as surviving with his sanity in tact. And now, one of his friends was saying there was a way out, a way to freedom. For a moment he allowed himself to entertain the possibility. To run free, to have a real bed and real food. Out there where they could run around in the fields, howl at the moon, and do as they pleased.

Link shook his head, clearing it away. He looked about, trying to dispel his thoughts of the outside world by listening to Jellal shush their friends.

"What kind of bullshit is this?" snapped Erick. "Escape? There is no escape from this place."

"You're wrong!" said Sho, defending his idea. "I've tried it, it works!"

"How does it work then? Dazzle us with your genius idea." said Erick sarcastically, trying to squash out his own hopes. He had not hoped since he was four years old, and he refused to delude himself with hope now.

"I confess that I too am skeptical to the idea." stated Simon, trying to calm the situation. "Sho, what sort of escape plan have you come up with?" asked the large boy.

Sho gulped and continued. "I was on cleaning duty see, and I was cleaning up the basement of the mess hall. While I was there, I found this hole in the wall, big enough for kids like us to fit through. I went through, and it led to the sewer system here on the island. I followed it, and it emptied it into the ocean." explained Sho.

"You did all of that Sho? That was really brave." said Milliana brightly.

Sho blushed at Milliana's praise. "Aww shucks, it was nothing." said Sho sheepishly, his face as red as Erza's hair.

"Whats the damn use of climbing out the crap pipes into the ocean? Sounds like a good way to get us eaten by sharks." said Wally glumly.

"That's the thing," said Sho. "It's really near the docks! Once we get there we can swim to the docks really easily and steal a rowboat and get away!"

"How are we gonna know where we're going?" asked Link. "I don't know about you, but I've never been in a boat before."

"My parents were fishermen." chirped Milliana. "I know a little about navigation, I think I could get us to land."

"Woah, woah, woah. Are we actually considering this?" asked Erick incredulously. "Are we really going to try something as half-baked and hair-brained scheme like this?" asked the boy, Cubellios hissing to underline his words.

"Well would you rather rot here forever?" asked Jellal sarcastically.

"Of course not." countered Erick. "But this plan is one of the most asinine things I have ever heard of!"

"Erick, we have to try. If we don't we may be stuck here forever." said Link.

"Yeah, but at least we wouldn't be shark bait." said Erick. "At least we'd be alive."

Jellal exploded. "I'd rather die than live my life here! I'd rather die free than live like a slave!" he shouted.

Jellals words had come so suddenly, so powerfully, that it hit the others like a freight train. Link hated it here, who in their right mind wouldn't, but he didn't realize just how far Jellal's own hatred expanded. The scary thing was, Link knew that he was telling the truth. He could tell by the raging fire and passion in his eyes, he could tell that Jellal meant every word of what he had just said.

The words struck Link to the core, and roused uncertainty in him. Die free or live a slave? Link had never given the question much thought before. And to be honest, it scared Link that he did not know the answer. He knew very well what his answer should be, it should be that he wold rather die than live a slave. And yet there was doubt, a powerful seed of doubt within him. Did he love life that much? Would he sacrifice his freedom to preserve it? Link didn't know, he honestly didn't know.

Erick looked at Jellal, his mouth slightly open in surprise. He looked down, unable to meet the intensity in the blue-haired boy's eyes. He glanced at Cubellios, his jaw working in circles before he finally looked up, a new determination in his face.

"So, how are we going to pull this piece of insanity off?" he asked, and it seemed the very air breathed a sigh of relief.

The situation eased, Sho stepped forward once more. "We each go to different groups tomarrow, and we go to the basement at different times. Two of us will go in the morning while they're marching us out, four will go when it's lunch time, and the last two will go after work is done when they're marching us down to the cells. Once we're all together we'll go through the tunnel and into the sea."

The children glanced at each other, considering Sho's words. They seemed sound, and the plan seemed good. Link looked up and met Erza's eyes. They were large and frightened, and Link could understand that. If this plan went wrong and they were caught, it would certainly mean their death.

But if it did work, they would be free again. And when they did return, it would be with an army behind them.

Simon was the first to stand, his usually soft eyes hard with force of will. "I'm in. I'll cast my lot here." he said firmly.

Next was Milliana. "Me too. I think Sho is right. We can do this!" she said brightly.

Wally stood next. "I'm in too! Screw this place and it's mages! Let's break out of here!" he shouted, revolution blazing from every pore of his fragile body.

Link breathed in, steeling his nerve and called upon his faith. He recalled his father's words from his dream, so long ago it now seemed. 'Find something to believe in, Link. Find Faith.' Link knew in that moment who he had faith in. He had faith in Sho's mind and Jellal's valor. He had faith in his friends. No, that wasn't right. These people weren't his friends, they were so much more than that.

They were his family.

Link felt his courage soar and the Fire of Faith rage in his heart, and he stood. "I'm in." was all he said.

Erick sighed and rose to his feet. "I still say it's crazy, but what's to lose? I'm in."

Finally, Erza stood. Her brown eyes were frightened, but Link saw more than fear in them. There was a primal sort of courage there. a valor and honor one normally associated with a knight on a white charger. This was true courage, the courage of the heroes of old, that he saw in her eyes, and seeing it made Link himself feel a little braver.

"I'm in." she said.

Jellal smiled at his friends, and a defiant smile grew over his face. He looked each of them in the eye, and felt tears of joy brim in his own. "Steel your courage guys. This night we are slaves, but tomorrow, we're gonna be free!"

All through the night Link thought about the plan, and thought about what it would mean if they escaped. Link had not been on the island long, probably only a few months, but it felt like he had been here forever. He could no longer comprehend what life would be like on the outside anymore. It was more like a far off dream, some half-remembered fantasy from his childhood.

He thought about his first dream when he had come to this Hell-hole, the one about his father. Fairy Tail, he remembered. According to Rob it was real enough, and so was his uncle, Gildarts. Link supposed he would go there, mainly because he wasn't sure where else to go. As for how he would get there, well, he would cross that bridge when he came to it.

But what troubled him most was what Jellal had said earlier. Link had searched his soul for his answer, had racked his brains and his mind for the answer, but he was still uncertain. Freedom or life? Link had a horrible sense of foreboding that he would soon be faced with the reality of that question, and much would depend on his answer. He was terrified of that thought, and terrified of what the answer would reveal about him as a person. More than anything Link was afraid that he was a coward at heart. He was afraid that, when push came to shove, he would bend and bow.

All through the night Link agonized over the decision, getting little sleep. When morning finally came he forced it to the back of his mind. Now was not the time for soul searching, now was the time for putting plans of escape into action.

Link was nervous all day long. He saw all of his friends as he made his way up to work in the quarry. Like Sho instructed, he went to a different group than usual, all of them spreading out to different corners of the quarry, not speaking to each other for fear that they might awaken doubt within each other. They could not afford doubt now, they had to have complete faith the plan would work, otherwise everything would fall apart.

The had worked out a schedule for the escape. Jellal and Sho would go to the basement first and wait for the others while ensuring that everything was in order for the others arrival. At lunch Simon would shepard Wally and Milliana down while Erick smuggled Cubellios with him (he had refused to leave without her). Finally, at the end of the day Link and Erza would steal away to the basement and unite with the others. Once they were all together they would leave through the sewer and steal one of the rowboats and row to freedom. Hopefully once they got to land they could get to the Magic Council and convince them of the crimes here on the island.

Link jumped at every noise that day. Every shadow became a looming guard, every sound became the bark of a hellhound. That day he was reduced to a raw bundle of nerves, waiting for something to make him twitch in fear and surprise.

Every second was agonizingly slow and painful, and the sun inched across the sky, mocking him with it's slowness. He saw little of his friends, and when he did see them they exchanged short glances before moving past each other. They did not talk, they did not dare, they stayed as quiet as possible.

He did not see Jellal or Sho after the initial march to the surface which he supposed was a good sign. After lunch he saw neither hide nor hair of Milliana, Simon, Erick, or Wally which he assumed was another good sign. After lunch the seconds marched by like they were laden with lead, each one slowly moving past. He had met up with Erza right after lunch, and he could see the strain was affecting her as well. She was shaking like a leaf, and not from fatigue. The terror in her eyes was clear, Link just hoped that he didn't look as bad as she. Even as they worked together they dared not say anything, they were model workers all day long.

At long last, the bell rang for the end of the day. Erza and Link lay their tools down and mingled with the crowd, doing their best to act natural and hide their excitement and trepidation. As they marched past the Guards Mess Hall both looked about like rats in the middle of a room with a sleeping cat. Their bodies tensed as they neared the telltale doors, the mark of where they needed to duck through to get to the basement. The sun glinted in the horizon, momentarily blinding the nearest Guard, and a scuffle in the crowd distracted the others. In that moment, a moment that seemed to last for eternity, they bolted for the cellar doors.

It lasted only the span of a few moments, but for Link and Erza, the dash to the cellar was an eternity. Any moment they expected to hear the shout of a guard or feel the sting of a spear in their backs. But they heard nor felt either of those things, and after what seemed like ages they finally ducked into the cellar, closing the cellar doors behind them as quietly as possible.

For a moment neither spoke, the adrenaline and fear still pumping through their systems. Both simply stood and panted for a few minutes on the stone stairwell leading to the basement, trying to process the fact that they had not been caught. Once they had caught they're breath, Link looked up at Erza, a grin slowly spreading across his face. "We made it."

Erza stared at him without comprehension for a few moments, until the words sunk in a moment later. When they did, an amazed smile spread across her face. "We... we did. We really made it." she said breathlessly. Neither of them could believe it, they couldn't believe that they had actually gotten past the guards and into the basement.

Before escape had been some far off idea, some that dream or foolhardy bit of ridiculousness. Now though, now they had gotten past the guards. Now they had won a victory, a real victory. Not a fake victory like playing pranks on the guards or swiping food, a real one. They were one step closer to freedom.

"Come on, the others are waiting for us." said Link taking Erza's hand and walking down the stairs with her.

"Link," she said as they walked. "Do you... do you really think this will work? I want it to work... but I just don't know." the fear was clear in her voice, and Link could understand why. This plan was a hastily cobbled together bit of insanity by a group of kids. But it was also the only one they had. Link HAD to believe that it would work. The only other option was to give up.

"Yeah, of course Erza." said Link with all the confidence he could muster. "Sho already tried it, and he says it works. We can do it if he can."

"But what if something goes wrong?!" she said, drawing away from him, stopping on the stairs. "Link, I know Jellal would rather die than stay here, but I'm scared Link. I... I don't want to die." she said, tears springing to her eyes. "And I'm- I'm ashamed of that. I'm ashamed that I want to live more than I want to be free." she said, her body trembling with emotion. She fell to her knees, sobbing.

Link was shocked. What Erza was saying right now was a mirror image of Link's own thoughts. He couldn't believe that Erza of all people felt this way though. Like Jellal, Erza was the bravest person he knew. Not brave in the warrior sense that Jellal was, but in a more subtle way. While Jellal bottled up his fear and grief, Erza let it out. She allowed herself to cry, to let her grief out, so that the happiness would be even more special.

Link knelt beside her, gently putting a hand on her shoulder. "Erza, if you wan't to go back then we will. Because Erza, you're the bravest person I know, and if you can't do this, what chance have I?" asked Link.

Erza looked up, surprise in her eyes. "What- what do you mean Link?" she asked in surprise.

"I mean Erza, that if anyone can do this, it's you." said Link gently. "Erza, you're brave like no one else. You're the one who reached out to Erick first, you're the one who pet Cubellios first. Erza, you're the one who overcame the most fear in your heart when you agreed to do this." He firmly grasped both of her shoulders and met her brown eyes with his blue, each set matching in intensity. "You are the bravest person I know Erza Scarlet, and I have faith in you."

Erza looked at him, her eyes disbelieving. And then, the doubt cleared from her eyes, and something new burned within them. Something Link knew very well, something he had never seen. He saw it in her eyes, that which was in his own eyes.

It was the Fire of Faith.

"Let's go." she said softly.

Together they stood, and descended down the stairs together. Now it was different, for both walked with purpose, determination in their stride. Now they were stronger, now they burned with strength.

When they reached the bottom the others were huddled by the opening that Link could only assume was the one Sho had spoken of. They looked up when they heard the other two enter, and grins opened up on their faces.

"Guys!" cried Wally and Sho brightly. The two ran forward and hugged the older children. "We thought something happened to you! You were taking so long." they said sounding close to tears. Jellal, Erick, and Simon approached, the latter of the three carrying a frightened Milliana piggyback.

"Were you followed? Did anyone see you?" asked Jellal pensively. His face was set hard, determination in every pore. Link shook his head while returning the hug Wally was giving him. Jellal nodded, still looking pensive. "Then we need to get going, now." he said firmly. He grabbed Wally and Sho by the shoulders and glared at them. "It's time to go, it's time to get our freedom once and for all." he declared proudly.

"Really? Oh that's so very fascinating." said a smooth oily voice from the shadows in the room. All eight of the children turned towards the voice, terror in their hearts at the sound.

Out of the shadows strode a tall man, a pale white man garbed in tight clothes and a red cloak. A black rapier was sheathed at his hip. Behind him, grinning cruelly, were four armed guards, all accompanied by large, slobbering Hellhounds.

"Well, you little scamps are going to have to tell mommy Ghirahim ALL about it." said the man, a smile on his face. There was nothing in his eyes, nothing but darkness. "After he's done with you that is."

AN: Oh yes, I am evil with these wicked cliffies. Anyway, LEAVE ME REVIEWS YOU BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE! I LOVE YOU, BUT REVIEW OR I'LL DEVOUR YOUR CHILDREN! REVIEW!