Yo guys so I got a bit of a announcement. I have been accepted to a story-line writers academy in eastern Europe so if push comes to shove I wont be writing for a while but whatever. Incase your wondering what that is its a place where people who are accepted learn how to write story-line for games and movies etc. so wish me luck don't worry the story will continue and I cant wait to post this chapter. hope you have a nice day don't forget to R&R love ya!-Ira

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN FAIRY TAIL

(Eastern Forest:Baron's home)

VAAALLLLL! *gasp* *gasp*

Baron sat in bead his head buried in his hands covered in a sheen of cold sweat. He closed his eyes and turned so he could lean against the wall. Damn it all. He closed his eyes and leaned against the wall. He suddenly opened his eyes to look around the room then realized that Erza was probably still sleeping in her house. The two had been training for about the past two weeks and in that time they built her a small house right next door to his. She had progressed massive amounts she was very good at hand to hand by now but still Baron trumped her. They had just begun spear combat training and as he thought she was a novice.

"Baron?!"

Baron just closed his eyes hearing Erza's worried voice call out through the door. Even if he said he was fine she would come in anyway. Against his will completely tears began to roll down his cheeks. He thought he stopped having dreams about her! He thought wrong apparently.

Erza who stood outside began to worry. Baron wasn't responding so she pushed open the door and made her way to his bed. Her eyes widened as she looked upon the wreck that was Baron. He was shirtless wearing slacks leaning on the wall of his small room with a thin sheen of sweat covering him. The thing she noticed that scared her the most was the tears rolling down his face. Baron wasn't supposed to cry he was strong!

Erza made her way to him and sat next to him and wrapped her arms around his next and pulled him close and let him sob into her chest. She stroked his hair gently cooing him telling him it was ok just a dream. In her mind she was just as scared as he was. If something could push him this far it was horrible. Finally as she was holding him he spoke a single name that shook her foundations.

"Valia"

It was so quiet so fearful and weak she almost thought someone else had said it.

"Baron its ok you know you don't have to tell me" she reassured only to have him pull back from her embrace and wrap his hands around her wrists. He stared into her eyes.

"Take a walk with me"

"sure" Erza wasn't entirely sure where this was going but she knew he was about to tell a story.

They walked in silence close enough to one another that if she was to move her arm a bit to the left she would brush her hand against his. As much as she wanted to right know she knew he needed his space. They walked for an hour until they came to a small outcropping of a cliff that that overlooked the whole of Magnolia.

Baron took a deep breath before sitting down on the edge of the cliff letting his legs hang over the edge. Erza quietly copied his position and turned to look at him. He had his eyes closed face turned up to the stars (it was still early morning) the breeze tugging his hair and the moon giving his face a handsome shadowing.

"Erza I'm going to tell you about what happened to me why I was gone, why I couldn't help with the guild during its crisis's and why I came home scarred and quiet" Baron said his voice soft-spoken his eyes still closed.

"Baron you-"

Baron had placed his hand over her mouth to stop her from speaking. He took a deep breath and began his tale.

FLASHBACK

BARON POV

I stumbled through the sands and finally crashed to my knees. IT WAS SO DAMN HOT! I had been travelling for more than seven days without water or food the fact I wasn't unconscious of dead somewhere in the infinite dunes was a miracle. I finally worked up the will to push myself to stand and make my way forward. I just had to leave that small town without extra supplies didn't I.

"I wish I would just die" I groaned out loud.

"We can arrange that"

I turned just in time to grab the club that was swung at my head by horseback and pull the man off his horse. Before I could do anything to him a heavy object smashed into my spine making grunt in pain and black dots dance across my vision. I stumbled and fell only to try and stand back up again. As I stood and turned and faced my assailents. there where at least six facing me on horseback all wearing shemaghs covering their faces with tan robes over shining place armor.

Ghampiri.

I am so dead.

That was the last thought that passed through my mind before a club smashed into the side of my head knocking me unconscious.

(Unkown)

I woke in a dark room the floor made of mossy stone. I tried to stand only to find my arms chained to the wall in a way similar to a crucifix. Then I remembered. Ghampiri. I groaned aloud and tried to use my magic to break the chains. As expected they where magic nullifying. I should have guessed while Ghampiri where slavers they where still smart and good at what they did.

"Oh your awake" a gentle voice reached my ears.

I turned my eyes to see a girl with blond hair that reached her back wearing a type of leather armor made of god knows what with piercing blue eyes and a rusty sword strapped to her hip. Despite her imposing figure she had a gentle look in her eyes that spoke volumes of her kindness.

"Where am I?" I managed to choke out.

"Welcome to the hell-hole of the desert they call it the 'Gods Arena' but everyone knows it mostly as the pits"

"The pits"

Well shit.

I was so royally fucked.

The pits where a place where the Ghampiri took their especially strong captives to have them fight in the 'arena' to earn them money. Think gladiators but a lot more brutal and cheap. Sometimes you would be put against three opponents some times one on one but most of the time you would be facing off with beasts of a unknown origin.

I sighed and turned my gaze back to the blonde in my cell. She was gazing at me with a amused look in her eyes.

"So whats your name?" she asked me curiousity ablaze in her eyes.

"Whats yours"

"Valia" Valia huh.

"My name is Baron" she raised her eyebrow at this.

"That's a very unique name"

I only grunted in response and turned my eyes to a man stepping into the hall of my cell and had made his way to my cell.

"Oi newcomer your fight is up next your master gave you a sponsorship he apparently expects you to last longer than most so here"

The jailer tossed a rusty set of half-plate armor that had a cross strap to leave my chest unguarded but my right arm thick plated. (Think gladiator armor from Spartacus the TV series) and a baldric with a two handed sword in it. As if on cue my chains suddenly snapped off allowing me to drop to the floor.

"Huh your standing after being up there for a hour or two? Impressive"

I looked at Valia as I strapped my gear on knowing the only way out of here was to climb to the top or die.

"I'm not exactly weak"

She just chuckled her voice sending shivers down my spine. "No I can see that"

I finally finished strapping my sword to my back and as I made my way out I stopped hearing Valias voice behind me.

"Hey rookie don't die alright I need a new partner and I think you may fit the bill"

I turned back to see her smiling gently at me and in return I just chuckled lightly and continued down the hallway that had opened for me along with my cell. At the end of the hall stood a tall muscular dark skinned man clad in heavy plated armor leaning on a wall looking at me suspiciously as I made my down.

"So your to be my partner in this fight huh?" he stated in a deep thickly accented voice.

I only nodded in response turning my gaze back to the gate.

"Well my name is Khara and don't bother telling me yours ill decide wether or not your worthy of telling me if you survive"

I only smiled grimly and gave him a look that said 'don't worry ill definitely watch your back'

Then the gates swung open and me and Khara stepped into the bright light of the Arena.